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Minor atom AHinchcliffe quickly adapting to IndyCar seriesRangers wereBy Herb Garbuttis just getting to the end, Hinchcliffe saidlonger IndyCar races can be.OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFfrom Indianapolis last week.Its mental more than anything, he said. league finalistsHinchcliffe found that out the hard way inYou feel every bump, youre driving faster, James Hinchcliffe climbed out of the cock-his IndyCar debut when E.J. Viso, trying toconserving fuel, taking care of tires. Theres a The Oakville minor atom A Rangerspit of his car earlier this month, his handsturn his car around after a spin, clippedlot of stuff going on.recently concluded their rep hockeyblistered from nearly two hours of grippingHinchciffe as he drove past, knocking him outThe same could be said for Hinchcliffe off season as Tri-County Minor Hockeythe steering wheel while maneuvering his carof the race.the track. Its been less than a month since he League playoff finalists.around the bumpy 1.968-mile track throughIt looked like bad luck had followedwas standing trackside watching other drivers Oakville went 5-1 in the round-robinthe streets of Long Beach.Hinchcliffe to Long Beachqualify for the season-opening race while portion of the Tri-County playoffs toSomehow, they didnt hurtI'm learning that when his car caught fireawaiting a sponsorship deal.reach the final, where the Rangersnearly as much as they shouldjust four laps into the prac-Now, despite missing the opener and not 50 per cent of the dropped the best-of-five championshiphave. They could be seen as atice session. With no backupfinishing his debut, Hinchcliffe's latest result game is just getting series to Centre Wellington Fusion inbadge of honour after completingcar, his team rushed to pre-shot him into second in the rookie-of-the-to the end.four games.the longest race of his career. Orpare Servias backup car foryear standings (no other rookie finished bet-Three of the four games in the finalthperhaps it was his fourth-placehim. ter than 14th at Long Beach) and 17 over- IndyCar racerwent to overtime, including Centrefinish in just his second IndyCarA three-hour turnaroundall. James HinchcliffeWellingtons 2-1 win in Game 4.start that eased the pain.and we were on the track,Although hes quickly made up for lost The Rangers were 20-7-1 during theWhatever it was, Hinchcliffe issaid Hinchcliffe, who wouldtime, Hinchcliffe isnt about to take his foot regular season and 4-2 in the Ontariothlooking forward to toughening up thosequalify 11. We lost time running on theoff the pedal.Minor Hockey Association playdownshands over the next six months.track but I have to say a thank you to the teamIts definitely a shot in the arm in terms of before competing in the Tri-CountyI just have to man up for this series, hefor getting us ready.the rookie of the year standings, but it also playoffs.told an interviewer minutes after the finish of Hinchcliffe had plenty of reasons to likeshows how quickly things can change. I cant Members of the team are Noahthe April 17 race. Im just a rookie out therethe Long Beach track. He earned his firstrelax and get too confident.Church, Curtis Blakely, Anthony Tabak,with soft hands.ChampCar Atlantic podium finish on theNot for long anyway. After a whirlwind Russell Sands, Ben Doherty, John-That may be the case, but Hinchcliffetrack and last year recorded his first Indystart to his IndyCar career, Hinchcliffe spent a Franco Ionno, Alexandre Moreau, Jackshowed he is more than capable of holdingLights victory there. But racing in the tighterfew days at home in Oakville for Easter before Morris, Cooper Elliott, Robbie Gauthier,his own against the IndyCar vets. He turnedconfines of a street course in a more powerfulheading to Sao Paulo, Brazil for the fourth of Tristan Kerec, Christian Sbaraglia,in the second-fastest lap of the race andcar changed things significantly.the 17-race circuit. That will be followed by Kieran Drover, Ryne Thacker, Jodhavoided an accident in the latter stages of theThe first couple of laps, you appreciatethe granddaddy of all races, the Indianapolis Dhillon, Ryan Eadie and Curtis Goddard.race that claimed three of the front runners,how much faster the IndyCar is, how much500 at the end of May.Jamie Church, Dave Kerec and Philincluding his Newman Haas teammate Oriolcloser you are to the walls, he said.Ionno coach the team, and PeterServia.With his debut being cut short, the 24-year- Follow Beaver sports reporterSbaraglia is the trainer.Im learning that 50 per cent of the gameold also found out how much more taxing theHerb Garbutt on Twitter at @Herbgarbutt2 Free Large Basketswith our New Bonus Card$RANGE BALLS 6.75with our Money Saving Membershipwww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, April 28, 2011 24