James Generic

James Generic (born January 19, 1961 in Fredericton, Canada) is a former Life Grand Prix and CART racing driver. He is well known for being the only Canadian who had participated in Life GP.

Career

Early Career

Generic drives at Formula Atlantic from 1977-1980. He won 4 races with best at 8th in standings. Generic also attempt 1980 Indy 500, where he finished 17th.

Life Grand Prix

Generic decided to find a driving job elsewhere, and he found Some Racing Team Inc. Co. Pte Ltd. trying to find a Canadian driver to compete in a new series called Life Grand Prix series, consisted of Life L190 chassis. Generic struck the deal and drove car no.1, despite the series' first season. He scored his first podium in the first race at Jerez, finished 3rd. He then got caught by the unreliabilityness of the Life chassis and failed to finish in the next 3 races. He managed to finished 8th at Osterreichring, albeit scoring no points. After another 2 retirements, he scored another 3rd place podium at Anderstop. Disaster strikes when he would retired 5 races consecutively. At Brands Hatch he managed to got classified as 6th finisher and gain a single point. After another retirement, he finished 7th at Watkins Glen, albeit no points. Another retirement struck at Caesars Palace race. On the final race of the season, Generic classified 6th, and finished 18th on the championship with 10 points.

For 1992, Some Racing Team Inc. Co. Pte Ltd. decided to withdrew from LGPS, leaving Generic with no drive. Then a team called Caraxl called him to drive for them. Deal was made and Generic made a return at round 6 at Ostrreichring, where he stalled the car off the grid. His first finish since return was at AVUS round where he finished 4th. SuperPrix de la Suisse proved to be one of his best chance of win faded in the most dramatic finish racing world ever had, after Jan van der Maeyede's suspension failed in last lap, Generic would inherited the lead, 2 and a half minutes behind prior to VDM's retirement. But Generic's gearbox stucked in 3rd entering Tetre Rouge and he was beaten by Archibald March by 6 seconds at the line. He took a rest for Zolder and back for Zandvoort before took another rest at Castle Combe, after a health issue of his mother. He still raced in Mosport, only to hit a stalled car at the start and retired. He didn't drive for both US rounds, and her mother took her rest in peace just 1 day after Phoenix round got underway. Generic back to seat at Japan where he retired some laps before the race completed. Tenpecost managed to score points so Generic again replaced by Tenpecost for the final round. Generic finished 20th with 9 points in 1992 LGPS standings.

Generic remained for Caraxl Racing which expanded to two-cars for 1993. The season started bad, with 5 retirements in a row. While racing in Mosport, Generic had a brake failure and stranded in the middle of the track. Just when he unstrapped one of the joints of his seatbelt, he was hit by Braggia, sent Generic rolled and hit the barrier. He was knocked unconcius and had to be rushed to hospital. Examination showed Generic suffers broken ribs, concussion, and leg sprained, which took him out for the next 8 races. Back in recovery now, Generic suffered another crash at Windhoek, nearly injured him again. Reliability hampered again at Fuji, and he sat back for both South-East Asian rounds to allow Petrus Handoyo race at his home continent. Back for the last 3 races, he secured a long-time coming win at Eastern Creek after some miscomunications at Fosters Racing. It proved to be his only finish of the season as engine problem strikes at Macau. He finished 18th in the standings, with 10 points.

IndyCar

With Tenpecost, Generic returned to North America to race in IndyCar World Series with Caraxl Racing. The season was average due to the domination of Penske Racing. Things went bad at Cleveland. Approaching the 1st corner at the start, the 7-wide pack suddenly vortexed into just 2-wide. Generic caught in the middle of it. Worse, he was late on the brakes. He then launched off the back of Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr., landing with nose on the engine of Jimmy Vasser and front-flipped once before lands on the track and rolled 4 more times and slid some 80 metres before stopped upside-down. Miraculously Generic only suffered minor concussion and sprained neck but it ended his 1994 IndyCar campaign early. Continued to 1995. Generic miss the Phoenix race due to his helping duties at Rejects-1. Then when Handoyo took a rest at Rejects-1, Generic was appointed by the team to replace him. Generic continued to race in IndyCar whenever the schedule does not conflict. This year he took 1 victory at Toronto, much of the delight.

Rejects-1

Other than IndyCar, Tenpecost and Generic also helped the team for Rejects-1. At French SuperPrix and Indonesian round, Rejects-1 comission agreed with Caraxl Racing to test the Osella FA1ME car. Both Tenpecost and Generic raced at both races but not eligible for points. In 1995, the troubled Handoyo could not took part the season fully. Generic drove in Canada and from France to Malaysia. He showed a surprise by finishing 5 consecutive times from France to Portugal, earning two 2nd place finished. With that, Generic finished in 11th position in the standings with 43 points.