- Sam Schmidt
Infobox racing driver
name = Sam Schmidt
pixels =
caption =
nationality = USA
date of birth = Birth date and age|1964|8|15
place of birth =Lincoln, Nebraska
date of death =
retired = 2000
related to =
last series =Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
years active = 1997-1999
teams =Blueprint Racing LP Racing Treadway Racing
starts = 26
wins = 1
poles = 1
fastest laps =
best finish = 5th
year = 1999
prev series =USAR Hooters Pro Cup
prev series years = 1995Sam Schmidt (born
August 15 ,1964 inLincoln, Nebraska ) is a formerIndy Racing League driver and current IRL andIndy Pro Series team owner.After graduating from
Pepperdine University , he became a successful businessman, eventually purchasing his father's parts company in 1989 at the age of 25. He raced at a competitive amateur level, supported by his business income, but dreamed of someday driving in theIndianapolis 500 . His first drove professionally in 1995 in theUSAR Hooters Pro Cup Series at the age of 31, an unusually old age by racing standards to begin a professional career. Nonetheless, he won rookie of the year honors.In 1997 he made his first IRL start and was a rising star in the league, netting his first victory from the pole at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1999, finishing fifth in series points that year. During that offseason onJanuary 6 ,2000 , while testing in preparation for the 2000 season, Sam Schmidt suffered a crash atWalt Disney World Speedway that rendered him aquadriplegic , leaving him on a respirator for five weeks.After leaving the hospital, and inspired by meeting
paraplegic Formula One team ownerSir Frank Williams , he foundedSam Schmidt Motorsports , which has become one of the most successful teams in the short history of the Infiniti Pro Series winning the 2004 series championship withThiago Medeiros , the 2006 title withJay Howard , and the 2007 title with Alex Lloyd. Sam Schmidt Motorsports has also participated in the Indianapolis 500 with several drivers and was a full-time IndyCar series team in 2001 and 2002.Sam now lives in the Las Vegas area and travels over 120 days per year despite his medical condition.
External links
* [http://www.samschmidtmotorsports.com Sam Schmidt Motorsports]
* [http://www.samschmidt.org/ Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
