Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Announces Ryan Briscoe as Replacement Driver for Indianapolis 500

Topics:  Indianapolis 500, Ryan Briscoe

Monica Hilton
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
May 21, 2015

For more information contact:
Monica Hilton
monicah@spmindycar.com
608.669.3211

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indianapolis, IN - May 21, 2015 - Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) has announced that Ryan Briscoe will fill the seat of the No. 5 Arrow Electronics Indy car on Sunday, May 24 for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The seat became available after SPM's contracted driver, James Hinchcliffe, was injured in a crash on Monday afternoon during practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When doctor's determined that the 28-year-old Canadian driver would not be cleared to drive for the foreseeable future, the team began exploring replacement options.

Briscoe, a native of Australia, boasts an impressive track record at the Indy 500, including a pole position and two top-five finishes. As SPM owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson went through the list of options, Briscoe's results put him at the top of the list of contenders.

"We explored quite a few options and felt confident in Briscoe," said Schmidt. "We were glad he was available and willing to drive for us with such short notice. Obviously this was not a situation we were expecting to be in for the biggest race of the year but we're making the best of it. Our thoughts and prayers are with James [Hinchcliffe] and his family right now while we work through the details of finding his replacement. We're excited to have an accomplished veteran in the seat of the No. 5 Arrow Electronics car."

Briscoe commented, "First and foremost, I feel absolutely terrible for Hinch. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery. Under the circumstances, I'm thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be here and fill in for him. I really hope to do a great job for Arrow Electronics, Lucas Oil and the SPM team, and I'm looking forward to being back here in the Indy 500 again."

Because of the switch, the No. 5 car will be 33rd on the starting grid.

The team reported that details will be announced soon about Hinchcliffe's replacement until he is cleared to return to the seat.

The 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May 24. Fans can purchase tickets for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing at IMS.com/tickets or watch the race broadcast live on ABC starting at 11 a.m. ET.

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 .