Sam Schmidt Motorsports moves into Tony George’s former shop

The Sam Schmidt Motorsports race team recently moved to a race shop on Coffman Road, near Georgetown Road. Team officials said they’ll increase its work force from 12 to 40 employees by 2012.

Team owner Sam Schmidt said he was initially attracted to the shop, previously occupied by Vision Racing, because of its location and potential.

Vision Racing, which was founded in 2007 by former Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George, shut down last year.

“As an organization, we’re always seeking ways to grow on and off the track," Schmidt said. “We felt like this was the right time to move into a bigger facility and give the team the ability to expand our racing capabilities."

The team’s new space triples the size of its previous facility at 7991 W. 21st St., and offers state-of-the-art motorsports equipment, Schmidt added.

SSM races multiple cars in the Indy Lights Series, the Indy Racing League’s primary feeder series. Team officials said they are seriously contemplating a jump to the IRL within the next two years. IBJ.com