HINCHCLIFFE GETS GOINGINDYCARCURT CAVININDYCAR OWNER Michael Andretti and driver James Hinchcliffe were on the verge of signing a contract as AA went to press this week.Barring a wrong turn in talks, last year's Rookie of the Year will be the driver of the high-profile GoDaddy-sponsored car this season.The seat was vacated by Danica Patrick as she turned full-time to NASCAR. Two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon had signed to be her replacement on the morning of his fatal crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway back in October last year. Hinchcliffe, a 25-year-old Toronto native, is the natural next choice: a rising star who is as outgoing and easygoing as Wheldon was.Hinchcliffe became a free agent at the end of the season, but he couldn't return to Newman/Haas Racing when the famed team decided it didn't have the funding to compete in 2012.Hinchcliffe, the 2010 Firestone Indy Hinchcliffe finished the season Lights runner-up, joined Newman/with three top-five and seven top-10 Haas for the second race of last finishes in 16 starts, finishing fourth in season. He qualified eighth at Barber the last race at Kentucky Speedway. Motorsports Park and finished 24th He qualified in the top 10 nine times. after being involved in a crash. He Andretti's team already has Marco finished fourth (at Long Beach) and Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay ninth (in Brazil) the next two races.Hinchcliffe finished the season with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 16 stars, finishing fourth in the last race at Kentucky Seeedway. He qualified in the top 10 nine times.Andretti's team already has Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay committed to rides in 2012.