Curt Cavin

curt.cavin@indystar.com

Maybe Sam Schmidt dropped a hint about James Hinchcliffe's IndyCar future.

Deep in a Las Vegas Review-Journal story posted yesterday about Parker Nicklin, an 18-year-old Las Vegas driver Schmidt has partnered with, Schmidt said he couldn't discuss Simon Pagenaud's replacement because sponsors "like to bring in fine meats and cheeses and pretty girls dressed in form-fitting outfits" when those announcements are made.

For the record, those words appeared to be the writer's in paraphrasing what Schmidt said at the gathering at Schmidt's Henderson, Nev., home.

Coincidence or not, Hinchcliffe's sponsor this year was United Fiber & Data, which brought a half-dozen "grid girls" to each Verizon IndyCar Series race, and The Star has learned that Schmidt Peterson Motorsports is planning to announce Pagenaud's replacement Tuesday.

Hinchcliffe has remained mum on his 2015 plans, but his employer of the past three seasons, Andretti Autosport, hasn't committed to his program. Hinchcliffe drove for Schmidt in Indy Lights in 2009.

Hinchcliffe is traveling today and wasn't available for comment.

Schmidt is apparently working on those meats and cheeses.