Paralyzed IndyCar racer lauded for charity

By Sean Ammerman

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 | midnight

Former IndyCar racer Sam Schmidt doesn't remember the crash almost nine years ago that left him without feeling below his neck.

For weeks after his car collided with the Walt Disney World Speedway wall at 160 mph during a practice run, everything was a blur.

In an instant he went from Indianapolis 500 competitor to a quadriplegic who needed a ventilator to breath.

"One way that I am blessed is that I don't remember it," said Schmidt, a Green Valley resident. "I do remember a doctor telling my family to find a nursing home to put me in."

He used the drive that made him a top racer and the inspiration from his father, who also had a debilitating race injury in 1974, to motivate himself in his recovery. After six weeks, he was off the ventilator.

By the end of 2000, he started the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation to fund scientific research and rehabilitation advances.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has taken notice of Schmidt's foundation, and on Tuesday it honored Schmidt with its 2008 Visionary Leadership Award.

"Sam is a very talented individual and people respect him even though he can only move his head and shrug his shoulders," said Ida Cahill, president of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.

Schmidt had met Reeve, who was a quadriplegic later in life, on several occasions and was inspired by the late actor's ability to overcome his disability.

"What I find most meaningful is receiving this honor from such a respected organization," Schmidt said. "Christopher Reeve brought a level of awareness to quadriplegics that was never there before."

Schmidt was inspired to start his foundation after seeing other quadriplegic leave rehabilitation before recovery because their insurance ran out.

As he saw research develop throughout the years, Schmidt developed a loftier goal — to one day walk again.

His foundation estimates its donations to scientific research to be more than $1.5 million in the last three years.

"We're not just waiting around here for someone to create a magic pill," Schmidt said. "The key is combining the funding and research with developing the proper type of rehabilitation."

Schmidt has never been one to let his injury stop him.

And while its takes him two hours to get out of bed each morning, he travels more than 100 days out of the year.

He spends much of his time running Sam Schmidt Motorsports, which sponsors drivers in the IndyCar and Indy Lights Series.

Even with his busy schedule he formed a deep friendship with fellow businessman Todd Davis, who named his son after Sam.

"Here's someone who liked to go fast on the track and in life and that all changed," said Davis, founder of LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention. "He had to adjust his whole life and learn to be patient, and he does it without complaining while inspiring others."

Schmidt's love for racing is as strong as ever.

"Racing is what I wanted to do since I was 5 years old," he said. "I always wanted to race the Indianapolis 500 and I did that. I always had it in my blood and I would have regretted it if I hadn't taken the opportunity."

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].