Schmidt to run Honda power with Pagenaud in 2012
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| Simon Pagenaud |
This rumor that we had posted since August 1st is now upgraded to 'fact' today. Frenchman Simon Pagenaud will be the driver of the Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) Honda-powered Dallara in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, team owner Sam Schmidt announced today during a press conference in Indianapolis.
SSM team manager Rob Edwards and Pagenaud joined Schmidt at the press conference in the Indiana Convention Center during the International Motorsports Industry Show in downtown Indianapolis, just five miles from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Pagenaud, 27, brings a wealth of experience driving several types of high-horsepower cars in his career. In 2011 alone, he was a factory Honda driver in the 12 Hours of Sebring and a factory Peugeot driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 24, finishing second in both events. In addition to the sports car racing he did, Pagenaud also raced V8 Supercars, Rally cars and had three IndyCar Series starts in 2011 filling in for injured drivers Ana Beatriz (Barber Motorsports Park), Justin Wilson (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course) and Simona de Silvestro (Infineon Raceway).
“I am delighted to be joining the IZOD Indy Car Series full-time with Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Honda,"
Pagenaud said. “The series represents the most competitive racing in the world right now, and I am really looking forward to the challenge of racing in a single-seater again. I have to thank Sam Schmidt Motorsports for giving me the opportunity and to continue with the Honda engineers at HPD. It is the best situation I could wish for."
Like many racers, Pagenaud started his career racing karts near his home in Montmorillon, France. He moved steadily through karts and formula cars in Europe from 1994 to 2005. At the end of that run, he made the decision to steer his career path through the United States. In 2006, he made the move to Indianapolis and his career took off.
“America has been a lucky charm to me, really," Pagenaud said. “The start of it was 2006, when I won the Champ Car Atlantic Championship with Walker Racing, which allowed me to enter the Champ Car Series in 2007."
His rookie year in Champ Car was also his last as the series dissolved when Indy car racing was unified under the Indy Racing League banner. Pagenaud finished eighth in his rookie season. Though he was out of an Indy car seat, his stock quickly rose when he became a factory driver for Honda Performance Development.
Teaming with car owner Gil de Ferran in 2008 and 2009, Pagenaud won five American Le Mans Series LMP1 races, seven poles and several podium finishes. In 2010, he switched to the Highcroft Racing team and, with codriver David Brabham, won the American Le Mans Series LMP1 championship with four wins and three poles.
“We are very fortunate to land a driver of Simon’s caliber for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season," Schmidt said. “As all the teams work to develop the new cars and engines, his diverse experience will be invaluable to us. Simon has a strong relationship with Honda and its engineers, which is also a huge asset. This is a big day for Sam Schmidt Motorsports."
The 2012 season will be a reunion for Pagenaud and members of the SSM IndyCar team. Edwards, the team manager, held that same position with Walker Racing when that team won the 2006 Atlantic championship with Pagenaud. In addition to Edwards, several current SSM crew members worked with Pagenaud at Walker Racing as well.
“I am thrilled to be renewing my relationship with Simon after working together in 2006 when he won the Atlantic championship and then graduated to Champ Car in 2007," Edwards said. “He has continued to develop since then and is clearly deserving of a full-time ride in the IZOD IndyCar Series. We are excited that he will have that opportunity with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2012 and look forward to a successful rookie season with him."
The SSM IndyCar team begins its third season in 2012, though it will be only the second year of ownership by Schmidt. The successful Firestone Indy Lights team owner purchased the assets of FAZZT Race Team, with team manager Edwards, in the spring of 2011 to create his own IndyCar operation. Edwards had built FAZZT around a core of veteran crew members and engineers, and the experience paid off under Schmidt’s ownership. In only its second season, the team won the prestigious Indianapolis 500-Mile Race pole position in 2011. In addition, Schmidt’s Indy Lights team won its fifth series championship with driver Josef Newgarden and its 46th overall race win.
“I know 2012 will be a big challenge with the new Dallara chassis and being on a new team but, quite frankly, that is what is so interesting," Pagenaud said. “To fulfill a lifelong dream to race an Indy car and to compete in the Indianapolis 500 is a special time in my life. I can't wait for the start of the season in St Petersburg. I also want to especially thank Sam Schmidt for giving me the opportunity to drive for his team and for my friends at HPD."
Pagenaud’s car number and sponsorship package will be announced at a later date.
The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season kicks off Sunday, March 25, with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
08/01/11 Simon Pagenaud says his IZOD IndyCar Series debut in mid-April “was fantastic." So much so that he’s seeking to compete full time in the series in 2012.
Pagenaud gained considerable attention at Barber Motorsports Park by advancing 15 positions relative to his starting spot to finish eighth in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car. He was filling in for Ana Beatriz, who suffered a fractured wrist in the season opener two weeks earlier at St. Petersburg.
“I had been dreaming to do IndyCar for years and I got my shot to show what I could do to the INDYCAR paddock," he said. “Lucky enough I got a good result, which got me a lot of interest with a lot of teams. So I talked with my agent, who’s having talks with some teams. Sam Schmidt is one of them."
Pagenaud, who’s been racing with Peugeot Sport this season (Dale Coyne Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais is a teammate) in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, tested the No. 77 Sam Schmidt Motorsports car at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 28.
But like the Emergency Broadcast System disclaimer, “This is only a test." Alex Tagliani is in the Bowers & Wilkins-sponsored car for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio this weekend.
“It’s certainly the fastest open-wheel race car in the States, so I’m glad to test," said Pagenaud, who competed in the Champ Car World Series in 2007. “Sports cars are very interesting in the sense that you get new aero updates every weekend, really anything you’re looking for as a driver, but you have to share the rides. IndyCar is so tight. You really have to get to 100 percent of your capacity; every driver is looking to get to the edge.
“IndyCar is really interesting because you have so many different talents competing. So may good teams, and that what makes it exciting. I was talking with Will Power just about the number of good drivers in the series. Even the guy that’s last on the grid is a good driver. It’s one of the tightest series in the world."
Pagenaud won the Atlantic Championship with Team Australia in 2006 (besting Graham Rahal by a few points) and earning the $2 million prize to apply toward a Champ Car ride in ‘07. A teammate of Power, he posted three consecutive fourth-place finishes in the Canadian rounds and finished eighth in the championship. IndyCar.com
07/23/11 Sam Schmidt Motorsports plans to run Simon Pagenaud in next week's IndyCar open test at Mid-Ohio.
If that goes well, he will compete in several races with the team later this season as they work toward a Honda partnership for 2012. Indy Star
[Editor's Note: Pagenaud filled in for Ana Beatriz early in the season and was very competitive. He deserves an IndyCar ride more than other less talented drivers on the grid. After all, Randy Bernard said, on many occasions, that IndyCar drivers are supposed to be the best drivers in the world.]