Jeff Olson

Special for USA TODAY Sports

The waiting game is over for James Hinchcliffe and his IndyCar fans.

The driver announced Tuesday he will join Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2015, filling the seat vacated by Simon Pagenaud.

Hinchcliffe, who started with Newman-Haas Racing in 2011, spent the past three years with Andretti Autosport, joining the powerhouse team in 2012 as Danica Patrick's replacement. He emerged as one of the series most popular drivers with his social media presence as the "Mayor of Hinchtown."

"We are happy to have had Hinch as part of the team over the past three years and have enjoyed our successes together," team owner Michael Andretti said. "As a former driver, I understand him having to make the decision he did, he needed to cover himself. I wish that we could have resolved a deal to secure him for 2015, but we are not in that position yet. We're sorry to see him go, but wish him the best."

He has three wins and seven podiums in 68 career starts, with finishes of 12th, eighth, eighth and 12th in the final standings.

Hinchcliffe, 27, signed a multi-year deal to drive the No. 77 Honda. Pagenaud left for Team Penske last week.

"Despite being around in Indy Lights for years, SPM is a relatively young team in the IndyCar paddock," Hinchcliffe said in a statement. "To see what they have accomplished in the last few seasons has been incredible. Winning races, being competitive at all tracks and finishing in the top five in the championship against more experienced teams at this level is impressive. Because they are young, there is still room for them to grow and improve, and that's an exciting thought for me."

It will be Hinchcliffe's second stint at SPM, which has finished fifth or better in the IndyCar title run the past three years with Pagenaud.

He is expected to team with 2014 Russian rookie Mikhail Aleshin on the two-car team. Aleshin is recovering from injuries sustained Aug. 29 in an accident during practice for the IndyCar finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. He sustained a concussion, chest injuries, fractured ribs and a broken shoulder. He was released from an Indianapolis hospital on Sept. 16.

Hinchcliffe, the 2011 rookie of the year, drove for SPM in the stepladder Indy Lights series, finishing fifth in 2009.

"James had great success in Indy Lights and other series on his way to IndyCar," team owner Sam Schmidt said in a statement. "In fact, he would already be with us driving the No. 77 if he would have been available three years ago. We went after him in 2011, but it didn't work out then.

"We know that his success in the Verizon IndyCar Series is no fluke. We've now won races and contended for championships, and we believe he's going to be the person we need to keep moving forward as a team. It's a very big compliment to the team that James wants to come drive for us and that he thinks that he can win and contend for championships with us."

Depending on available funding, Andretti Autosport could now have an opening in Hinchcliffe's old car to team with 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Carlos Munoz, who are all signed for next season.

During a Tuesday news conference in Indianapolis to announce his signing, Hinchcliffe repeatedly said he harbored no ill will toward his former team or his ex-teammates. Hinchcliffe, Andretti, Munoz and Hunter-Reay did face some unique challenges in 2014. At times, they raced hard not only against the field but also against one another — something Hinchcliffe said he only expects to intensify in 2015 now that they will be competing on different teams.

"They've been phenomenal teammates and even better friends," Hinchcliffe said. "We beat up each other on the track and then would go out for a beer, and I think that will be the same way this year."

Contributing: The Associated Press

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