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JR Hildebrand

Driver – #21

After serving as an integral part of the Ed Carpenter Racing organization over the past three years during the Month of May, JR Hildebrand has returned to full-time Indy car competition in 2017. The 29-year-old will be the driver of the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet for the entirety of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season.

After recording a 4.12 GPA in high school, Hildebrand was accepted at M.I.T. but deferred his acceptance to pursue a career as a professional racecar driver. He captured the USF2000 championship in 2006, the Firestone Indy Lights championship in 2009 and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors in 2011.

The Boulder, Colo. resident married longtime girlfriend Kristin on October 23, 2016. In early 2016, Stanford University appointed Hildebrand as an adjunct lecturer for the school’s vehicular dynamics program.

Fast Facts

Birthdate: January 3, 1988
Hometown: Sausalito, Calif.
Residence: Boulder, Colo.
Ht./Wt.: 6’0″/160
Spouse: Kristin
Twitter: @JRHildebrand
Starts: 62
Top 5 Finishes: 7
Top 10 Finishes: 17
Laps Led: 122
First Start: 3/25/10 (Mid-Ohio)
Best Finish: 2nd (Indianapolis, 5/29/2011; Iowa, 7/9/2017)
Best Start: 2nd (Iowa, 7/9/2017)

Career Highlights

Verizon IndyCar Series Career History

– Stood on first career podium at Phoenix International Raceway after finishing 3rd, just 20 days after breaking a bone in left hand
– Advanced to the Fast 9 in Indianapolis 500 Qualifications and started 6th, best starting position of Indy 500 career
– Qualified 2nd for Iowa Corn 300, best career qualifying effort
– Led 38 laps at Iowa Speedway before finishing 4th, matching career-best Indy car result

– Joined Ed Carpenter Racing for Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500

– Finished 6th in Indianapolis 500, best result since runner-up his rookie year

– Assumed testing responsibilities for the No. 21 car throughout the summer after Josef Newgarden was injured during race at Texas Motor Speedway

– Participated in both Indianapolis events for Ed Carpenter Racing (competing as CFH Racing), finishing eighth in the Indianapolis 500

– Had an impressive Indianapolis 500 for Ed Carpenter Racing, qualifying ninth and finishing 10th in only race of Verizon IndyCar Series season

– Competed in seven events for Panther Racing and Barracuda Racing with best finish of fifth at Long Beach

– Led six laps at Sao Paulo

– Finished 11th in Verizon IndyCar Series point standings for Panther Racing with best finish of fifth at Long Beach and Texas

– Recorded six top-10 finishes

– Led three races, including career-best 56 laps at Auto Club

– Finished 14th in standings for Panther Racing

– Runner-up in Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings

– Finished second in 100th anniversary Indianapolis 500, crashing while leading coming out of Turn 4 on final lap

– Voted Chase Rookie of the Year for Indianapolis 500.

– Made Verizon IndyCar Series debut at Mid-Ohio for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, finishing 16th

– Also competed in race at Sonoma, finishing 24th

– Conducted driver evaluation test in December with Panther Racing at Phoenix and was announced as full-time driver the following week

2013: Competed in two Formula D events with Tyler McQuarrie Racing

2009: Won Indy Lights championship for ARPRO/Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing with four and five pole positions…Tested for Force India Formula One team at Jerez.

2008: Finished fifth in Indy Lights standings for RLR/Andersen Racing, with first series win at Kansas

2007: Made Indy Lights debut at Sonoma doubleheader with RLR/Andersen Racing…Finished seventh in Atlantic Championship, with best finish of second at Cleveland.

2006: Won Cooper Tires Formula Ford 2000 championship, with record-setting 12 victories in 14 races

2005: Finished second in Pacific F2000 championship with two wins and nine podiums in 12 races…Finished third in Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Cup after earning Team USA Scholarship.

2004: Won SCCA Formula Russell championship, recording seven victories and 11 podiums…Named Formula Russell Rookie of the Year.
Early Career: Won Jim Russell graduate runoffs in 2003 after finishing second in Jim Russell Championship Series Junior 80 shifter kart division…Captured 2002 Jim Russell Sprint Kart Series championship in TaG 125 class, recording four victories.

Next Race

Streets of Long Beach

April 21, 2024 • 3 p.m. ET

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