page_title: J. R. Hildebrand
section_title: IndyCar
hierarchical_section_title: J. R. Hildebrand / IndyCar
caption_attribution_description: English: A photograph of J. R. Hildebrand after crashing on the final lap of the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
context_page_description: John Randal Hildebrand Jr. is an American race car driver. He currently competes in the IndyCar Series for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Hildebrand won the 2009 Indy Lights championship, and came close to winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500, hitting the wall on the final corner of the race and crossing the line in second place.
context_section_description: Hildebrand made his IndyCar Series debut in 2010, competing in two races for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as a substitute driver for the injured Mike Conway. On Tuesday, December 14, 2010, it was announced that Hildebrand signed a multi–year contract to drive the No. 4 National Guard entry for Panther Racing, starting in 2011 after impressing the team during a test.
  Later in 2011, Hildebrand qualified for the Indianapolis 500, and was the most successful rookie during his premiere race. Hildebrand was able to lead at the halfway point for Panther Racing, and stayed on the lead lap for the entire race. This allowed him to take a gamble during his last pit stop, stretching out his fuel load to an eventual lead on the final lap. On the very last turn, he slid out of the racing lane and into the retaining wall while passing rapidly slowing Charlie Kimball, allowing Dan Wheldon to take the victory.  Despite the damage to his car – including the loss of a wheel – Hildebrand retained enough speed to cross the finish line in second place.
  On October 16, 2011, Hildebrand was involved in a 15-car chain reaction crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the season-ending IZOD IndyCar World Championships. He sustained an injured sternum and was transported by ground ambulance to a Las Vegas area hospital, where he was admitted for treatment.   The crash claimed the life of two-time Indy winner Wheldon.
  Following a last-place finish in the 2013 Indianapolis 500, Hildebrand was released by Panther Racing. He had announced earlier in the year that he would be running selected Formula DRIFT races as a teammate to Tyler McQuarrie. In 2014, Hildebrand joined Ed Carpenter Racing for the Indianapolis 500, driving the No. 21. 
  On November 4, 2016, it was confirmed that Hildebrand would take over the Ed Carpenter Racing No. 21 car for the 2017 season, replacing Josef Newgarden. He finished 15th in the points standing for the season, achieving a second place finish in Iowa and a third in Phoenix. Following the season Hildebrand was not retained by team. For 2018 Hildebrand was signed for by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to pilot their car in the Indy 500 (their only entry of the season), and finished 11th. He returned in the same role in 2019, finishing 20th.
caption: Hildebrand crashed on the final lap of the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
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