Insider claims Andretti Global could sign 'popular plan B' as Marco Andretti's Indy 500 replacement

Andretti Global is aiming to run Colton Herta in place of recently retired Marco Andretti, but the team is keeping some backup options in mind. If the 25-year-old could not take time off from the F1 ladder series, then IndyCar insider Kevin Lee revealed that former IndyCar driver turned commentator James Hinchcliffe could be the team's next best bet.

Hinchcliffe and Andretti Global have had a history of competing in the IndyCar series together. The Canadian driver has driven for the team for five years in two different spells, in which he emerged as the winner at three race weekends.

However, since 2021, Hinchcliffe has not jumped back in the cockpit of an IndyCar and has continued his involvement in other spheres of racing, working as a pundit for F1 and IndyCar.

Meanwhile, with Marco Andretti bidding adieu to professional racing, the team has one extra car to run for the 110th running of the Indy 500, which they plan to get Colton Herta into.

But, if he is occupied by his racing venture in Europe, then Lee claimed that Hinchcliffe could be a popular plan B for Andretti Global, as he said on the Trackside podcast:

"Could you be thinking we're probably going to run Colton Herta, and if we decide that's not best for him and for Cadillac F1, we could always go to a really popular plan B in James Hinchcliffe. And I say this not knowing if Hinchcliffe still wants to do it. We've not talked about this for over a year, but I know how race car drivers are, and almost all of them, if they are presented with an opportunity to run with a top-flight team and are not required to bring budget and pound on doors and everything else, they're going to say yes."

On the other hand, James Hinchcliffe is currently contracted to FOX Sports and is a part of the trio that voices IndyCar worldwide.

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Would FOX Sports allow James Hinchcliffe to get back in the cockpit if Andretti Global comes knocking on the door?

James Hinchliffe wearing Andretti Global overalls - Source: Getty

While James Hinchcliffe has also worked for F1 during his time with FOX Sports, getting time off from commentating during the biggest race weekend of the year would be a difficult task on paper.

The 38-year-old would have to inquire about this with FOX Sports, but Lee shared two possibilities that could take place if Hinchcliffe asks about this relaxation from the Manhattan-based broadcaster on the podcast:

"I don't know if Hinch's full-time employer would allow it. I don't know if Fox would say, 'Nope, you have signed up for a job, we need you in the booth and that's that, and that would be the end of it.' Or they might say, 'No, this would enhance the broadcast, This would make you more valuable the rest of the season, and we would do two in car hits during the race. And how cool would this be.'" (15:27 onwards)

Going by the trends, Andretti Global will run four cars at the Indy 500. Last time an Andretti driver won the Indy 500 was in 2017, when Takuma Sato emerged as the race winner, a statistic that the team would like to work upon at the upcoming edition of the race.