Santiago Urrutia to Compete for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2016 |
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Topics: Santiago Urrutia
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Monica Hilton
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
18 February 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indianapolis, IN - February 18, 2016 - Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) announced today that Santiago Urrutia will compete with the team, driving the No. 55 Mazda-sponsored car, in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires Series for the 2016 season.
Urrutia competed in various formulaes in Europe before winning the 2015 Pro Mazda championship and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
The 19-year-old Uruguayan driver completed a successful Indy Lights test with SPM at Homestead-Miami Speedway in January of this year. Urrutia will test again with the team next week at Phoenix International Raceway before the first race in St. Pete.
"I am very honored to be able to drive for SPM," said Urrutia. "The team has an amazing record in Indy Lights and I am going to make sure I add to its tally of wins and championships. I'm also very happy to work with an incredible group of guys and gals that I've already met during my tests with the team. Now that the business of contracts is done, St. Pete here we come!"
Team owner Sam Schmidt added, "I'm very pleased to have Santiago joining the SPM team for 2016. He is clearly talented and deserving to have won the scholarship to advance to Indy Lights. What impressed me most are his focus, maturity and determination to be the very best. You can see it in his eyes and the way he approaches every aspect of the business. He is totally committed and will be competitive straight away."
The Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires season opener, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Race 1, will take place on Saturday, March 12 at 12:55 p.m. ET. As part of a double-header weekend, the second race will take place on Sunday, March 13 at 9:45 a.m. ET. More information is available at www.GPStPete.com.
About Schmidt Peterson Motorsports:
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) was established in 2001 and is owned by former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt and Canadian businessman Ric Peterson. Schmidt was paralyzed (quad) in 2000 after an accident during testing at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla. SPM fields cars in the Verizon IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500, and the Indy Lights Series presented by Cooper Tires. SPM is the most successful team in Indy Lights Series history with sixty-five race wins and seven championships. In addition, SPM won the coveted Indy 500 pole position in 2011, and has won five Verizon IndyCar Series races between 2013 and 2015.
About Conquer Paralysis Now:
Conquer Paralysis Now is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization with a mission to cure paralysis, formerly known as the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. The organization is leading the charge for a cure through funding scientific research, medical treatment and technological advances benefiting those paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, stroke or diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's or in other ways. For more information, visit conquerparalysisnow.org.