Schmidt Motorsport’s Indy Lights director dies

Indianapolis-based Sam Schmidt Motorsports is mourning the loss of veteran Firestone Indy Lights team manager Chris Griffis, who died Monday evening following a pickup basketball game in the Indianapolis area. Griffis was 45.

Team owner Sam Schmidt, who lives in Las Vegas, called off plans to fly to Japan for this weekend's Izod IndyCar Series race to come to Indianapolis to be with Griffis' family and team members. Indy Lights teams are not competing at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit this weekend.

Schmidt's team won the pole for the Indianapolis 500 with Alex Tagliani driving, and its Indy Lights program, led by Griffis, is the most successful in series history.

Team drivers Josef Newgarden and Esteban Guerrieri are 1-2 in Indy Lights points this season with a combined eight wins in 12 races. Schmidt's team also fields the car shared this season by Noblesville drivers Conor Daly (road courses) and Bryan Clauson (ovals). Indy Star