Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Schmidt inks Lazzaro to drive in IRL series

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Sam Schmidt Motorsports is moving forward with plans to compete in the 2001 Indy Racing League season.

After earning its first pole and podium finish in 2001, the Henderson-based team has announced the signing of a multi-year deal with Anthony Lazzaro to be the team's driver, continuing the relationship that Lazzaro and team owner Sam Schmidt forged as competitors in the Toyota Atlantic Series.

"This is just another step in a very long-term plan to move Sam Schmidt Motorsports into victory circle -- consistently," Schmidt said in the Speedvision report.

"Anthony is a great driver who still carries a daily passion for the pursuit of the win. He did a great job in the final Texas event, holding his own in the top five and running as high as second. I am looking forward to heading into the new season with my old teammate and long-time friend."

Lazzaro moved to the IRL last season after a brief stock-car venture with Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports. In two races last season with Schmidt, Lazzaro was hounded by engine problems, finishing 18th at Gateway and 13th at Texas.

It was a troublesome year all-around for Schmidt's team, which was slowed by a nasty accident that sidelined former Las Vegan Davey Hamilton and then had his replacement, Jaques Lazier, signed away by Team Menard after earning the team's first podium finish with a third-place at Nashville.

The team has limited backing from BG Products as well as a number of other associate sponsors, although the search for a primary backer continues.

The 38-year-old second-generation driver from Albuquerque, a part-time Henderson resident, joined the IRL in 2000 and has been part of Galles Racing. Since then, Unser has competed in 22 races and scored two wins, one coming at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2000.

Sponsor woes have put Galles' future on hiatus and Unser was given permission to contact other IRL teams about driving possibilities. He reportedly is discussing an opportunity at Treadway-Hubbard Racing, which campaigned Brazilian Felipe Giaffone to the IRL Rookie of the Year title last season.

"We did get a phone call from Al's agent informing us of his availability," Treadway-Hubbard general manager Scott Cronk told ESPN's Jack Arute. "Neither I nor Fred (Treadway) have spoken personally to Al, but he certainly would be attractive to us as a driver."

Sneak preview 2002 will take place Feb. 7-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., Championship Auto Racing Teams Inc. announced Thursday.

The announcement ends speculation that Las Vegas Motor Speedway was in the running to host the annual CART preview. LVMS and CART had been talking about the possibility of spring training as well as a regularly-scheduled race but those negotiations stalled in recent weeks amid CART's management shakeup.

Highly respected Long Beach Grand Prix promoter Chris Pook was named CART's new president and chief executive on Wednesday.

Gordon cited his Winston Cup schedule and sponsor commitments among the reasons for declining the invitation.

"It's definitely an honor to be recognized by IROC and compete against an elite group of drivers," he said.

The four-race IROC series pits 12 drivers from NASCAR, CART and the Indy Racing League in identically prepared cars.

Fellow Winston Cup drivers Kyle Petty, John Andretti and Wally Dallenbach also are scheduled to drive in the Feb. 2-3 race.

Jarrett, the ARCA winner at Kansas Speedway, was the series' rookie of the year and finished second in the season to Frank Kimmel in the standings.

Brian Hilderbrand is on vacation. His motor sports column will resume on Jan. 4.

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