Talented Indy Lights Driver Won Seat with Deeds On the Track
by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com
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Sam Schmidt’s Richard Antinucci. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL
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Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Richard Antinucci earned a place in the Indy Pro Series championship team’s fabled white No. 7 car by impressing with his prowess on the road and street courses of the 2007 racing calendar.
He took home two winner’s trophies, one each from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway, while clinching the pole at the latter circuit.
On Saturday (March 29th) he’ll attempt to put the SSM Lucas Oil car into Victory Lane at Homestead Miami Speedway for the third consecutive year.
Indy Lights Championship Team Proffers Huge Opportunity to Antinucci
Richard’s second year, his first full year in the cockpit contesting the eight ovals and eight non-oval tracks of the 2008 Indy Lights season, challenges him to cross another bridge toward IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500.
He’ll step into the large pair of shoes left behind by record-making SSM champ Alex Lloyd who has graduated to the IndyCar Series in 2008.
“You could call it a ‘pat on the shoulder’ or special recognition for the strong efforts and good work that was taking place last season on a part time schedule,” Antinucci said of the credentials that earned him a plum spot on the drivers’ roster.
“Whatever we did last season brought a very good drive and a great opportunity to shine, and hopefully take the next step, which is the IndyCar Series.”
Ironically, Antinucci’s ride came as a result of beating the car he now pilots.
“At season’s end we (Eddie Cheever Racing) out-qualified that (No. 7) car, and started beating that car,” he said of his staggering improvement over the 2007 season. “I passed it a couple of times over the last few races.”
“I think Sam (Schmidt, owner of Sam Schmidt Motorsports) probably thought, ‘Hey, we don't want to be racing against this guy so let’s get him in our car’.”
Richard and Team Hope History Repeats at Homestead
There’s additional imperative for a successful start to the 2008 Indy Lights season for Richard in that four of the previous Indy Pro Series champions either won or finished second in the Homestead season-opener (winners: 2003, Mark Taylor; 2007, Alex Lloyd).
Though he has limited experience on the oval portion of the schedule, Antinucci doesn’t consider himself a hopeless novice at the genre.
“My rookie test was taken last autumn on the oval in Kentucky. I’ve driven the short oval at Homestead,” he said, “but I’m still a bit green on the ovals, never having raced on one.”
Much like the former Champ Car World Series drivers who are embarking on the same learning curve in the big cars, Antinucci knows he has a lot to learn about always turning left.
“I need to get used to drafting, which is a big thing when you're racing ovals,” he said of his first advanced lesson in the self-study curriculum. “There are certain tracks that you can run flat out with the car, so we'll have a very close field. Drafting will be what separates the men from the boys.”
“Turning left all day is very different than anything else I've done,” he continued. “The Indy Light Series car is a heavier car than a Formula 3 car—it’s designed for the ovals. You can tell that because it has reinforcements on the front and rear of the car with a very heavy gear box and engine.”
“It is definitely more physical than racing on a road or street course. You have to train your body for right hand G loads, due to the left hand corners.”
The first test of how much the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup contender has learned will come in less than 72 hours when the green flag waves over Homestead Miami Speedway to start the new Indy Lights season.
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