News:

3-22-2006
Sam Schmidt Motorsports Opens Season at Homestead;
Indy Pro Series Drivers Jaime Camara, Jay Howard and Jonathan Klein

Sam Schmidt Motorsports opens defense of its Indy Pro Series auto racing championship this week at the 1.5-mile Miami-Homestead Motorsports Park.

Three highly-touted young drivers will take to the track in search of the title-winning drive – Jaime Camara, 25, a native Brazilian now residing in Miami, Fla.; Jay Howard, 25, of Basildon, England, currently living in St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Jonathan Howard, 18, of Long Grove, Ill.

A few weeks ago, the three were among the fastest in testing at Homestead. Camara is the only series-experienced driver winning three pole positions and two races during the 2005 season. Howard and Klein are two of the hottest young drivers in the sport, and all three drivers are very confident in their team’s ability to win all of the races this year.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports is also a means of promoting and publicizing the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. The Foundation was created by Schmidt to help raise funds for spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders research. Schmidt suffered a serious upper spinal cord injury in a testing accident on January 6, 2000 while practicing for the season-opening Indy Racing League event at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla. More information is available at www.samschmidt.org or (317) 236-9999.

Here is what the drivers, owner Schmidt and team manager Chris Griffis had to say going into Homestead:

SAM SCHMIDT, Owner, Sam Schmidt Motorsports:
“This is what we have been looking forward to all winter. Ten pole-positions and five victories were fantastic last year, but our primary focus is to bring the championship back again. We’re all in this to win. But there is nothing like the start of a brand-new season, everybody equal, everybody optimistic.
“We feel great about our potential for 2006. We’ve made great efforts to make all three of the cars extremely equal in terms of the car and the crews. Each unit is very deep, and all three drivers are very good.
“Our goal is to finish 1-2-3 in the championship. They can decide which order among themselves. But we have three drivers and three sets of crews who are getting along great. The drivers are sharing information well, and that’s going to be important. We have two rookies and one returning driver, and they need each other to be successful.”

CHRIS GRIFFIS, Team Manager, Sam Schmidt Motorsports:
“Several things make us feel pretty good going into Homestead.
“First of all, we tested well there. The cars were good, the drivers acclimated quickly and I feel we are well prepared for the weekend. Add in the fact we ran well there a year ago, and it really makes you feel good. Our cars qualified and finished first and second at Homestead last year.
“There is nothing that makes us feel our chances are any less this year.”

JONATHAN KLEIN, #27 Klein Tools/Turn-Key Forging and Design, Andretti Green Racing Entry:
“I feel like I’m in a good environment. I am optimistic I’ll race well. It’s just a matter of time and getting experience.
“This is an important series, especially for drivers. It is a stepping stone into the IRL and a place for you to debut your skills. The IRL owners have a place to watch rising talent and to make some judgments. It’s a great place for up-and-coming racers to showcase their talent.”
“The team has worked real hard over the winter with extensive testing in preparation for the 2006 Indy Pro Series. Jay, Jaime and I were all quick in testing so we're really excited to get the season underway. Based on the team's overall speed and preparedness during the winter, I have no doubt Sam Schmidt Motorsports is the top contender for the championship.
“The #27 Klein Tools/Turn-Key Forging and Design car will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend and throughout the entire season."

JAY HOWARD, #7 Lucas Oil/Isilon Special, Sam Schmidt Motorsports Entry:
“I really enjoy racing in the States. I had a very successful 2005, winning 9 of 12 races in the Cooper Tire Series and am looking forward to Homestead and racing in the Indy Pro Series in 2006.
“The biggest part of the weekend might be qualifying. I think a lot of how the race shakes out is going to come down to that.
“Getting out front is going to be pretty crucial. Homestead seems to be a lot about who can get out front and whose car is working in dirty air. The easiest way to get out front quickly is to win the pole. Have a good race setup under your car after winning the pole, and you are going to be tough to beat. If you are able to get out front, you might be able to run a little less downforce, which makes it easier to stay out front.
“Homestead’s oval is pretty straightforward. It was pretty easy all of the way around the track. Our cars were good – we could run on the white line all of the way around.
“From what we saw in the testing, all three of our cars are pretty close. That’s good because our expectations are pretty high. The team was really successful last year. And it’s good because with goals set that high, it makes everyone work harder. Nobody wants to win more than the guys at Sam Schmidt Motorsports.”

JAIME CAMARA, #11 CELG/Goias, Andretti Green Racing Entry:
“Our tests were really great at Homestead. The car felt very good. We have been fastest every time we tested. I have been getting along very well with my engineer, Tim Neff, and it shows.
“We got great track feedback and data from the car that’s now equipped with a dual shock front suspension for 2006. In 2005, I acquired tons of experience and knowledge from the car, tracks and the series itself; and look forward to continue learning even more this year.
“As far as my goals for the Homestead race, they are probably like everyone else’s. I will try to start as up front as possible and do all I can to have a constant race. Primarily, I want to finish my race and fight for the win.”