Friday, May 23, 2008 | 6:09 a.m.
The Indy 500 News Bureau sent along the following dispatch on Henderson resident Sam Schmidt, who is fielding four cars in the Firestone Indy Lights Series race today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
Three drivers racing for team owner Sam Schmidt of Henderson qualified Thursday in the first three rows for the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Firestone Indy Lights Series rookie James Davison of Melbourne, Australia, qualified second fastest at an average speed of 188.390 miles per hour. He was bumped from the provisional pole by only .0036-seconds by England's Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing.
Although disappointed at not winning the pole, Schmidt considered it a good omen for race day.
"We started second two of the three times that we've won the Freedom 100," Schmidt said. "That's what we want to do -- win here again."
Schmidt has four cars in the 27-car starting lineup.
Rookie Ana Beatriz of Brazil will start fourth after qualifying at 187.875 mph, the highest starting position for a woman in the series. Italian-born Richard Antinucci starts sixth and Jon Brownson of Breckenridge, Colo., starts 23rd.
Schmidt is seeking his fourth team win in the Firestone Freedom 100. Thiago Medeiros won in 2004, Jaime Camara in 2006 and Alex Lloyd in 2007. Schmidt has the winningest team in series history with 23 wins and three championships.
The Firestone Freedom 100 will air live at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) on ESPN2.
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