Columnist Sam Schmidt: Confidence soars after making field

Sam Schmidt

Monday, May 14, 2001 | 12:33 p.m.

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of columns by Indianapolis 500 car owner Sam Schmidt of Henderson as his team attempts to make the field for the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500. Driver Davey Hamilton qualified the Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Oldsmobile at 221.696 and is 31st in the provisional lineup.

We should have made the show Saturday but it was just dumb luck (an accident) that set us back late Friday.

We were right there with some speed and then we crashed. My guys did two motor changes in the last day and a half.

Halfway through the day Saturday when we didn't have the speed, Jim Fruedenberg, general manager of Kelley Racing, came over to me and said, "It looks like we've got the pole or we're going to be darn close to it, so if you need anything just give us a call."

So we called on them for set-up and a motor. I don't know ultimately if that's what put us over the edge but it certainly helped to get us to where we are now. It's just a race motor but I think it helped Davey (Hamilton)'s confidence and helped to get us to this point now. Ironically the last time they (Kelley Racing) loaned me a motor, I finished second at Las Vegas in 1998. They are definitely my good luck charm.

We were headed major league backwards if we couldn't make it in this show. I've really forced myself this entire week to not even think about what would happen if we didn't make the show.

It's so drastically different being a car owner than being a driver. I placed a lot less pressure on myself as a driver. It wasn't my money and I really felt confident as a driver. As an owner, I really don't have a lot of control other than to provide the equipment and to provide some guidance. I've really struggled all week mentally. I can drive the car and make this field in my mind, but how do I translate that into what Davey is feeling? I'd give anything to be back in this car, but being a car owner is the second-best thing for me.

This (qualifying) was a complete effort from Davey, the engineering staff, Larry Nash, everybody.

I cannot stress enough what Mother's Day means to my mom and to my wife, for me. I really wish my kids and Sheila were here to be a part of this. You cannot imagine the type of stress that this type of injury (paralysis) puts on a situation like this. My mother has been through this before with my dad. They said he would never walk or talk again, and he dug in and now he walks with a limp and talks just fine. Two years of outpatient therapy did that for him. That's a big motivator for me because I see that it can be done.

I have my family, my faith in God and the fans are my third layer of support. Driving down Gasoline Alley today and having everybody scream and yell for me just like they do the drivers was a big thrill. This is the second in a series of columns by Indianapolis 500 car owner Sam Schmidt of Henderson as he prepares for the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500. Driver Davey Hamilton qualified the Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Oldsmobile at 221.696 and is 31st on the provisional lineup.