News:

9-8-2006
Sam Flies on Thursday, Team Flies on Friday
Howard Leads 1-2-3 Qualifying Effort at Chicagoland

One day after team owner Sam Schmidt realized one of his lifetime dreams with an aerobatic flight in the Klein Tools Air Show planes, his team drivers swept qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway in preparation for a championship showdown in the final Indy Pro Series event of 2006.

Championship points leader Jay Howard led the way with a pole-qualifying effort of 188.774 mph, with friend, teammate and championship rival Jonathan Klein on the outside of the front row with a run of 188.285 mph.

With the championship point awarded for his pole run, Howard now holds a nine-point lead over Klein going into Saturday’s 65-lap race. The remaining title contenders include Bobby Wilson, currently third in the standings and 20 points behind the leader; and defending series champion Wade Cunningham, 28 points in fourth. Wilson will start fifth at Chicagoland with Cunningham sixth.

Series newcomer Akihiro Okamoto made an impressive Pro Series debut with the third-fastest qualifying speed, putting the Japanese Formula Dream and Barber Dodge driver on the inside of the second row for his first Pro Series race.

In the fourth Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry, Jamie Camara posted the eighth-fastest speed in qualifying. Camara, who has posted one win this season, at The Milwaukee Mile, and a trio of top-three finishes this year, and is currently sixth in the IPS standings, 71 points behind teammate and championship leader Jay Howard.

Meanwhile, team owner Sam Schmidt received the “ride of a lifetime” on Thursday, an aerobatic flight in a Klein Air Shows plane, coordinated and arranged by Rick Klein, father of SSM driver Jonathan Klein. Schmidt had observed the Klein Air Shows display at the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, and mentioned how much he would enjoy being a passenger on a similar flight.

Here in Chicago, headquarters for Klein Tools, arrangements were completed for Schmidt to take the ride of his dreams.

Jay Howard, #7 Lucas Oils/Isilon Dallara/Firestone
Qualified 1st at 188.774 mph, 28.9870 seconds, current championship leader

"The car felt great in qualifying, the best it’s been all day, actually. But going out first, I wasn’t sure if the time would hold up. It was kinda nerve-racking watching everyone else take a run at it. The pole is great, and the [championship] point certainly doesn’t hurt, either. Tomorrow, I want to get out front early, lead as many laps as possible, know I’ve won the championship, and then go on to win the race! Of course, if I win the race, I’ll win the championship too! But I expect 10 or so cars to run nose-to-tail throughout the race. I just hope to be at the front of that train.”

Jonathan Klein, #27 Klein Tools/Turn-Key Forging & Design Dallara/Firestone
Qualified 2nd at 188.285 mph, 29.0623 seconds, second in the standings

"We’re on the front row and that’s great, but I really wanted that [championship] point for the pole. In a way, it makes my job harder, because now I’m nine points behind and I have to win tomorrow. But it also makes my job more clear cut: I’ve got to get out front, lead the most laps and win the race. I think our race car is the best car in the field, we demonstrated that in practice earlier today, and that gives me a lot of confidence heading into the race. Jay [Howard] is my best friend, but I’m going to race him hard – tough but respectful – tomorrow.”

Akihara Okamoto, #77 OAM Dallara/Firestone
Qualified 3rd at 187.663 mph, 29.1586 seconds, Indy Pro Series debut

"It’s a big step up for me from Formula Dream in Japan to the Indy Pro Series, but my team gave me a very good setup for this race. The car was very comfortable to drive in practice and that continued into qualifying. [IndyCar driver] Roger Yasukawa also gave me great advice, and helped me with my technique here. I’m very happy to qualify on the second row, and I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow.”

Jamie Camara, #11 Neo Quimica Dallara/Firestone
Qualified 8th at 185.625 mph, 29.4786 seconds

"It was an okay qualifying run, but not as good as I wanted. We’ve got to figure out some issues we’re having with the car this weekend. I’m pleased that I got everything possible out of the car I had, but it’s also disappointing that there was nothing more I could do to make the car quicker for our qualifying run. We’ll meet with the engineers tonight and see what we can do to make the car faster for the race tomorrow.”

Sam Schmidt
Team Owner, Sam Schmidt Motorsports

"The flight was a very emotional experience for me. It’s definitely one to check off my ‘all-time’ list. We did everything: loops, spins, we went vertical, did a stall, and came straight back down towards earth. I thought we were going to end up in China! It was just a wild experience. One of the biggest disappointments about being paralyzed is that, just before my accident, I received an offer to go up in an F-15 out at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. I told that story to Rick [Klein] down in St. Petersburg and he said ‘hey, we’ll get you in that thing, no matter what it takes.

“I have to thank Rick [Klein] and his staff for the ride of a lifetime. They had a big job just figuring out the best way to get me in the plane and strap me in the seat.

“Tomorrow, I’m hoping for a safe but exciting race. I have great confidence in the abilities of both Jay and Jonathan. I know they’ll race hard but fair. I just hope my heart can take the strain!”