IndyCar's JR Hildebrand to Sail with Jimmy Spithill
"Adreniline Junkie" Out Tuesday on Oracle4: Press Release

August 21, 2012

JR Hildebrand may get a taste of San Francisco Bay sailing in his Tuesday visit with Oracle Team USA.
Photo:©2012 Guilain Grenier/Oracle Team USA
 

One of motorsport's hottest stars, JR Hildebrand, will swap open wheel driving for open water America’s Cup racing when he sails with Oracle Team USA today in San Francisco, Calif.

In place of the #4 car, IndyCar Series driver Hildebrand will race on the #4 boat with Jimmy Spithill, the double America’s Cup and America’s Cup World Series Champion.

“It’s really cool to be able to show the stars from other sports just how awesome these boats can be, especially on San Francisco Bay,” commented Spithill, the youngest winner of the America’s Cup.

Hildebrand was named 2011 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing runner-up in the 100th running of the famous race.

Racing for National Guard Panther Racing, Hildebrand is from nearby Sausalito, California.  He is a self-confessed “adrenaline junkie” who took an F-16 ride with the USAF Thunderbirds in 2011, went ice-climbing in Colorado during the offseason, and wants to skydive and someday fly in a wingsuit.

Following his afternoon sail on San Francisco Bay onboard Spithill’s AC45 wingsailed catamaran, Hildebrand will speak on the Main Stage in the Race Village, located on Marina Green, at 4:30 PM.  He will share his experience of “flying on water” when the public is invited to Meet the Skippers.

The America’s Cup World Series runs 21-26 August.  The Race Village is located on Marina Green and is free to the public.

Hildebrand will be racing in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on 24-26 August.

--From Oracle Team USA