John Hildebrand

John Randal Hildebrand Jr., born on January 3, 1988, is an American race car driver with a diverse background in motorsports. Hildebrand's career began in go-karts at the age of 14, where he won his first race and the Jim Russell Arrive and Drive Championship. He quickly transitioned to cars, winning the Formula Russell Championship in 2004. His early success led to participation in the Red Bull Driver Search, marking him as a promising talent.

Hildebrand progressed through various racing series, including the Champ Car Atlantic Series and the Indy Lights Series. In 2009, he secured the Indy Lights championship. His IndyCar Series debut came in 2010, and he signed a multi-year contract with Panther Racing in 2011. Hildebrand's most notable achievement was a close second-place finish at the 2011 Indianapolis 500, narrowly missing victory after hitting the wall on the final corner. He has also competed in the American Le Mans Series and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb.

Throughout his IndyCar career, Hildebrand has driven for several teams, including Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing. He achieved a second-place finish in Iowa and a third-place finish in Phoenix in 2017. In recent years, he has focused on part-time roles, particularly in the Indianapolis 500. Besides racing, Hildebrand considered attending MIT and has been recognized as a talented young American driver in open-wheel racing.