Claman De Melo and Harvey to Test for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Topics:  Zachary Claman DeMelo, Jack Harvey

Monica Hilton
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
20 July 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indianapolis, IN - July 20, 2016 - Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) announced today that drivers Zachary Claman De Melo and Jack Harvey will participate in the IndyCar test on Thursday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Claman De Melo will test in the No. 7 car, currently piloted by Mikhail Aleshin, while Harvey will be in James Hinchcliffe's No. 5 car. Aleshin will "shake down" the two Indy cars by completing ten laps each on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn, natural terrain road course before Claman De Melo and Harvey begin testing.

Claman De Melo hails from Montreal, Quebec and currently drives the No. 13 car for Juncos Racing in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires Series. The eighteen-year-old driver's career has progressed quickly since he started racing in 2009. His accolades include wins at eight (of eight) MSV F3 Cup Britain Invitational class races with four pole positions (2015), a second-place finish in the Rotax Senior Canadian National Karting Championship (2015), two wins (of four races) in the Skip Barber Winter Series with one pole position (2015), a victory at the Russell Karting Formula TaG Senior Florida Winter Tour (2014) and wins in the Senior Rotax Canadian and Eastern Canadian Senior Karting Championships (2014). He also won two national and four provincial karting titles between 2009 and 2013.

"I am excited about the test this week with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports," said Claman De Melo. "We have put a great deal of off-track preparation into my first IndyCar test. Sam Schmidt and his team are meticulous about introducing a driver to IndyCar, from fitting myself into the car, talking to engineers, going over the simulator, down to being physically and mentally fit for the challenge. Everyone at SPM is professional and I am thrilled that I have this opportunity with such an elite organization. I would like to thank IndyCar and SPM for believing and trusting in my abilities to perform at this level."

Harvey is a returning SPM driver, who competed full-time with the team in 2014 and 2015. In his debut year with SPM, the British driver finished second in the championship with four wins and ten podiums. He followed that up in 2015 with another second-place finish in the championship by earning two wins, six second-place finishes and 12 top-fives.

In addition, twenty-three-year-old Harvey's titles include British F3 (2012), CIK FIA Asia Pacific KF2 (2008), CIK FIA European KF3 (2007), Italian Open Masters KF3 (2007), Kartmasters Grand Prix (2007), Margutti Cup KF3 (2007), JICA Junior British Champion (2006), Kartmasters Grand Prix (2006), London Cup (2005), WTP 'O' Plate Champion (2004) and WTP Cadet Champion (2003).

"I'm really looking forward to getting back in an Indy car this week," said Harvey. "It's been a tough year but that's what makes the return to driving all the better. Mid-Ohio is a track I've done well at before so I'm hopeful that I can help the team with their testing plan moving forward. Thank you to SPM for giving me this opportunity and I can't wait to get started."

The July 21st test day will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Fans who have already purchased a ticket to the race and VIP season pass holders have free admission, otherwise the entry fee is $10. More information is can be found at www.MidOhio.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 Indianapolis 500 pole position in 2011 for the 100th Anniversary and 2016 for the 100th Running, and has won five Verizon IndyCar Series races between 2013 and 2015. For more information, please visit www.SPMindycar.com.

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.