The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Sports Oakville Beaver 19 · Wednesday, July 11, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012 19 HOMECOMING Oakville's James Hinchcliffe roared around the Honda Indy Toronto course early in Sunday's race as he made his way from 19th to fourth. However, an engine problem brought an end to his day and left him (above) to answer questions about what went wrong. Below, Hinchcliffe acknowledges the hometown crowd's ovation after bowing out of the race. ERIC RIEHL (LEFT) GRAHAM PAINE (ABOVE, BELOW) / OAKVILLE BEAVER SPOILED: Hinchcliffe's star still rising despite early exit By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF The roar of the cars was still thundering through the air when James Hinchcliffe arrived back at the Andretti Autosport paddock aboard his scooter. It turned out to be the lone mode of transportation that did not let him down at this week's Honda Indy Toronto. Hinchcliffe had an incredible run in the early stages of Sunday's race following a frustrating start to the weekend. Assessed a 10-position penalty on the starting grid after having to change his engine on Friday, Hinchcliffe started 19th. But by lap 25 of the 85-lap race, he had moved up to 12th. And a strategic move to pit early paid off when the leaders had to pit under the first caution of the day, allowing the Oakville driver to jump all the way to fourth and erase all the pre-race woes. And then it all went wrong. "I could feel something wasn't right on the caution lap," he said. "Something was about to go. So rather than risk blowing (the engine) up or causing an accident, we decided to bring it in." For 10 laps, Hinchcliffe's crew worked to rectify the problem before he finally climbed out of the car, ending a disappointing weekend. "We had a good first lap and made up a couple of positions. We got our pit in before the yellow and the Go Daddy crew did a great job calling that strategy," Hinchcliffe said. "We got into a top-four position so this is heartbreaking." Team owner Michael Andretti couldn't help but sympathize with the hometown favourite. "I feel so bad for him because he was doing a hell of a job. He was going to be a factor for the win," said Andretti, who won the race seven times as a driver. "He just had bad luck. Plain and simple." After starting the season with a run of good fortune and good driving -- Hinchcliffe finished top six in the first five races -- he has not finished three of the last five. Each DNF (did not finish) has been completely different. In Detroit, he ran over a piece of a the track sealer that lifted up, sending him into the wall. Two weeks ago in Iowa, he admitted his mistake led to him hitting the wall. And then in Toronto, he had the engine problem -- unrelated to the problem that necessitated the engine change Friday -- that still had the team baffled as Sunday's race came to an end. "Detroit was almost equally as disappointing, but we came back and finished fourth and third in the next two races," Hinchcliffe said. "We were hoping after Iowa "With any sport, you that hopefulneed stars to build ly this was around. When you have going to be someone like James our bounce back race." who is up there kicking It was not butt, the type of guy only a disapwho has a great personpointing end ality, a great sponsor, for Hinchhe's with a great team, cliffe, but for the series as you want to take that a whole. momentum and build." Prior to the race, IndyCar IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard CEO Randy Bernard said drivers like Hinchcliffe are a key to building the series, not only in Canada, but around the world. "With any sport, you need stars to build around. That's what encourages me more than anything that this is the right time to build it. We have a star now that can build it up here. (Hinchcliffe) is not only a star up here but he's a star in the US, too," Bernard said. "When you have someone like James who is up there kick- ing butt, the type of guy who has a great personality, a great sponsor, he's with a great team, you want to take that momentum and build." One bad race is not going to kill what Hinchcliffe has accomplished this season, even if he had hoped to give the hometown fans a better show. He knows days like Sunday are part of racing. "Nobody's having a perfect season," the 25-year-old said. "That's just the nature of the beast." Fortunately, apart from Andretti teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay, who won his third straight race to take the overall lead in the point standings, it was not a great day for the other championship contenders. Will Power, the point leader coming into Toronto, finished 15th, Scott Dixon (third) blew his engine and finished 25th. So despite finishing a season low 22nd, Hinchcliffe maintained fifth in the overall standings, though his road to the top is now much longer. And while his website, videos and goofy personality may have earned him attention during his rookie-of-the year season in 2011, Hinchcliffe has proven he can back up the hype on the track. "He's been a great addition to the team," said Hunter-Reay. "For him to put together the results he has for a sophomore driver, he's a guy who has got his head screwed on right." For a photo gallery of the Toronto Honda Indy, visit www.insidehalton.com