Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Dragon Racing announced that Chinese Ho-Pin-Tung will drive their combined No 8 Schmidt-Dragon Racing entry for the incoming 2011 Indianapolis 500 race.
The Lotus Renault Grand Prix test driver hopes to become the first driver from the People's Republic of China to qualify for the 500 Mile Race, earning a place among Janet Guthrie. Willy T. Ribbs. Hiro Matsushita. Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 back in 1977, while Ribbs became the first African-American and Matsushita became the first Japanese driver that competed in the race in 1991.
“I am very excited to take part in the Indy 500 with Schmidt Dragon Racing. The support for me in China has always been tremendous, and it’s a great honor to be the first Chinese driver ever to take part in this special race, especially being the 100th edition.
I realize it will be tough since it will be my IndyCar debut, but Sam Schmidt Motorsports has shown great results in the last few races at the Indy 500, and Jay Penske and the Dragon Racing team has proven they can deliver a highly competitive race car, so I am confident to have a good chance to qualify for the race.”
Although Tung is targeting an F1 career under the Gravity-Genii Capital management that owns a significant stake in Lotus Renault Grand Prix, he's not a stranger in IndyCars after testing in Sebring, Fla. during 2010 fall with the former FAZZT Racing team that was acquired by Sam Schmidt. in fact, test was supported by Bowers & Wilkins which is SSM’s No.77 entry official sponsor.
Tung started his racing career in karts at age 14 and quickly moved up through the open-wheel ranks, doing most of his racing in Europe. In addition to winning the Asian Formula BMW championship in 2003, Tung won the German Formula 3 championship in 2006 and has also competed in Spa 24hours for Gravity Racing alongside Jacques Villeneuve and in Superleague Formula Series with Galatasaray and Atlentico Madrid.
Sam Schmidt, who is already fielding 2 more entries for the Indianapolis 500 with Alex Tagliani and Townsend Bell plus another combined entry of Jay Howard, commented:
“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to compete at Indy with Ho-Pin. He did a fantastic job at the Sebring test and I’m confident we’ll be able to get him up to speed. To be the first team involved with a Chinese driver is huge. Our future success lies in our ability to generate commercial interest in our program, and what better way than to have a direct connection to the world’s largest population? Also, having the ability to partner with Jay Penske and Dragon Racing ensures a quality effort both on and off the track. Hopefully, the No. 8 will bring us tremendous good fortune.”
Dragon Racing returned to the IZOD IndyCar Series at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with veteran Paul Tracy. However, as Tracy had already committed to drive Indy 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Jay Penske had to search for another driver.
"Once again, I am thrilled to be part of the Indianapolis 500, especially for the 100 anniversary. I have always had deep respect for Sam Schmidt Motorsports and couldn’t be happier in partnering with Sam."
