NEWS - Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Xbox Indy Car Gets A Driver
Brad Pollard will drive the #64 XBOX entry for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in the next round of the Menards Infiniti Pro Series, having decided to switch his sponsorship from the Kenn Hardley-run team that he began the year with. Beginning with the Aventis Racing for Kids 100 at Kansas Speedway this weekend, Pollard will team with points leader Thiago Medeiros and Arie Luyendyk Jr in an expanded three-car Schmidt line-up. Pollard contested the final two events of 2003 with Schmidt, but began this season driving for Kenn Hardley's eponymous outfit. He finished fifth at Homestead-Miami and recorded eleventh-place finishes at Phoenix and Indianapolis, but has since decided that he would be able to progress further with a more experienced operation. "Kenn Hardley runs a great organisation, with quality people, and was a great owner to work with and drive for," Pollard insisted, "As I learn at this new level, however, I struggled to communicate exactly how I needed the car to be set-up to go fast. "I tested with Sam Schmidt Motorsports last year, and had a great working chemistry with the team. We approached Sam and he agreed to run me the remainder of this year, and to help me learn to communicate better with the team. I'm also very excited about the opportunity to drive with guys like Thiago and Arie, just as I was to drive with Billy Roe." Pollard, who was the 2002 Southwest Formula Mazda Rookie of the Year, will also draw upon Schmidt's experience as a former driver and owner in the IRL IndyCar Series. "Sam will be a tremendous resource as I learn to communicate with the team, and can provide a smooth transition for me when I make the step up to the IndyCar Series," he said. You can see pictures of the #64 car hereSource: http://www.crash.net
