LOOKING IN ON: MOTORSPORTS

Friday, May 11, 2007 | 7:28 a.m.

Tuesday marked the first full practice for the 91st Indianapolis 500 and, as has been the case every year since 2001, Sam Schmidt showed up with a car and a dream.

Schmidt, a Henderson resident who was paralyzed from the chest down in a racing accident in 2000, never achieved his longtime goal of winning the 500 as a driver. The next best thing, he says, would be to win the race as a team owner. And this year, he said, could be his best shot at the coveted Borg-Warner Trophy.

Schmidt has hired 1996 Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier to pilot the No. 99 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Honda.

"This is the best overall package we've ever had since I've been an owner and I would be disappointed if we don't qualify in the top 15, and I'll be disappointed if we don't get a top five or six " in the race, Schmidt said.

Although his team is not as well funded as some of the others that will be in the 33-car field, Schmidt likes his chances with Lazier , who, in addition to his victory, has six top 10 finishes in 14 starts at the Brickyard.

"You certainly can't be unrealistic and think we can outqualify Penske and Ganassi and the Andretti Green group, but there is going to be some attrition and it is a race that requires experience," he said. "Every time Buddy has been in halfway decent equipment, he's finished in the top five, so I don't have any reason to think any differently now.

"Would it be very tough for us to win the race? Probably next to impossible but it is Indy and anything can happen."

Schmidt is one of three people with strong ties to Southern Nevada who are trying to be a part of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" on May 27. Al Unser Jr., who lives in Henderson, will be driving the No. 50 entry for A.J. Foyt, and former Las Vegas resident Davey Hamilton is in the No. 02 entry for Vision Racing.

If he qualifies for the 500, it will be the first IndyCar race in which Hamilton has driven since an accident at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001 left him with severe foot and leg injuries.

Qualifying for the 91st Indianapolis 500 begins Saturday.

Tough decision

Las Vegas-based Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing will not compete in next month's 24 Hours of Le Mans so the team can concentrate on the American Le Mans Series.

The team, owned by local businessman Michael Petersen and managed by Dale White, won its class in the prestigious 24 Hours in 2003 and 2004, and finished second in class in 2005.

White said notifying the race's sanctioning body that the team could not accept the invitation to race at Le Mans "was one of the most difficult things that I have ever done in racing."

Back on top

Rod Fuller, a Las Vegas resident, regained the points lead in the National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel standings after a semifinal finish Sunday at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

Fuller had held the points lead for four consecutive races before relinquishing it two weeks ago in Atlanta. He now leads Brandon Bernstein by 23 points after seven races. The NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series resumes May 18 in Bristol, Tenn.

Sam Schmidt's best finishing position, as an owner, in the Indianapolis 500.

Schmidt's best finishing position, as a driver, in the Indy 500.