TORONTO – James Hinchcliffe is more visible in his hometown this week than Mayor Rob Ford, which is "like really weird," according to the freshman Andretti Autosport driver.

Go Daddy, primary sponsor of Hinchcliffe's No. 27 Chevrolet-powered car, has blanketed the metro area with bus stop/subway and billboard advertising, featuring Hinchcliffe's bearded face, surrounding the Honda Indy Toronto. Glance up on the Gardiner Expressway and his mother, Arlene, can see her youngest child larger than life.

"I feel sorry for the people of Toronto, I apologize on behalf of myself and GoDaddy for doing that to them," said Hinchcliffe, who rules over his own web domain as the "Mayor of Hinchtown."  "It's great that Go Daddy is so behind it. To see the level of activation that they've taken here in Toronto is incredible. I have had lots of friends from high school calling me saying they have never seen me as much as they have this week.

"I don't think you get used to seeing that but it's cool; it's all part of it."

Hinchcliffe has received considerable attention this season as the driver taking over for Danica Patrick in the GoDaddy.com car, and the media coverage is trending toward his on-track results. He enters the 85-lap race on the 1.75-mile, 11-turn Exhibition Place street circuit only 30 points behind IZOD IndyCar Series championship front-runner Will Power. There are six races remaining (five on street/road courses), with the finale at Auto Club Speedway on Sept. 15.

Hinchcliffe has seven top-10 finishes, including two podiums, in the nine races.

"It's obviously been a tremendous year for us up to this point," said the 2011 series Rookie of the Year. "We have been consistently quick, and that's what we can be proud of as a team. Whether it was road courses, street courses, short ovals or superspeedways, we have been fast at every kind of racetrack, and that's why we found ourselves in the position we were in – as high up as second in points."

He'll incur a 10-grid spot penalty June 8 because of an unapproved engine change, stemming from an issue that developed in practice June 6.

Special trip for special youngster

A.J. Stinger of Marion, Ind., is attending the Honda Indy Toronto with his father.

The 12-year-old, who is a year out of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was Indiana's ambassador for the 2009 Children's Miracle Network Champions Program that honors youngsters who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges. He continues to support Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where he received treatment, through various outreach programs for patients and staff.

Of note

Following the second practice June 6, the National Guard Panther Racing crew discovered a faulty right-rear brake rotor, which dramatically affected the No. 4 car's performance in both practice sessions. Driver JR Hildebrand was 22nd overall.