Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires team co-owner Sam Schmidt will be featured on “Arrow Electronics presents Courage in Sports” at 5 p.m. (ET) Nov. 16 on CBS. Check local listings.
Schmidt, an Indy car driver who suffered injuries in a testing crash in January 2000 that rendered him a quadriplegic, this past May had the opportunity to drive a passenger car once again around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Through the SAM (semi-autonomous motorcar) Project, Schmidt controlled the steering and acceleration of the modified Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray entirely by incremental head movements.
Schmidt is the founder of Conquer Paralysis Now, which funds scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances that could lead toward a cure. The foundation also raises funds to improve quality of life issues. Its Day at the Races program, in which paralyzed individuals meet Schmidt and get a behind-the-scenes tour at a Verizon IndyCar Series race venue, is among the foundation's longtime outreach initiatives.
A film crew recently visited Schmidt, co-owner of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, at his home in Nevada.
Rahal participates in on-track test
Graham Rahal said a test session Nov. 10 at Barber Motorsports Park an “extremely productive day.” Rahal, driving the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing car, was working for the first time with Eddie Jones as his race engineer.
"All things considered, I think the team is having fun again. With the new personnel we have in place, I think everyone is enjoying themselves and I think our teamwork showed it today and I'm excited about that,” said Rahal following his first on-track duty since the Verizon IndyCar Series season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
"We were very efficient, we accomplished a lot and we shaved a considerable amount of time, just over a second, off of what was done at the race. I feel like we're in a good spot.” Click it: Familiar faces join RLL
No other Verizon IndyCar Series testing is scheduled through the end of the month.
Indy 500 Pace Cars on display
Official Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Pace Cars will be on display Nov. 22-23 as part of the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.
Included in the show will be the Nos. 1 and 2 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. The No. 1 was used for the initial pace lap. The No. 2 was used when the pace lap was rerun because of an accident on the track. Jim Rathmann, winner of the 1960 Indianapolis 500, drove both cars.
Also on display will be the 1971 Dodge Challenger convertible that infamously crashed on the race course with astronaut John Glenn among the passengers.
Of note
Dakota Dickerson of San Diego earned the Bryan Herta Career Enhancement Scholarship Award after competing against top karters from around the world at the 18th Skip Barber Karts to Cars Shootout. Past winners of include Ryan Hunter-Reay and AJ Allmendinger. ... Cindy Lucchese has joined Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR, as chief administrative officer and chief financial officer. She was formerly senior vice president and CFO of Indiana-based Hillenbrand Inc. … Ochsner Health System will serve as the Official Health Care Partner for the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park in April 2015. Racing For Kids will be the inaugural event's official charity.