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INDIANAPOLIS - Canadian James Hinchcliffe, last season's IndyCar Rookie of the Year, was confirmed on Tuesday as the new driver to replace Danica Patrick at Andretti Autosport for the upcoming season.

 

"Can't put into words how cool it is to be driving the #27," Hincliffe posted on his Twitter microblogging website.

 

Michael Andretti's team later confirmed the hiring on Twitter.

 

Andretti's team had signed the late Dan Wheldon to replace Patrick, who departs this year to drive in the US stock car series, but England's Wheldon was killed in a crash in the 2011 season-ending race at Las Vegas.

 

Hinchcliffe drove last year for Newman-Haas Racing, which announced last month that it would not return for the 2012 season.

 

He had season-best finishes of fourth at Long Beach, New Hampshire and Kentucky and was 12th in the season points race.

 

Patrick, who spent five seasons on the Andretti team, became one of IndyCar's signature racers after becoming the first woman to win a series race by capturing the 2008 event at Japan's Twin Ring Motegi.

 

In 2005, she became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500 thanks to a refuel strategy and in 2009 she reached the Indy 500 podium with a third-place showing. — AFP