Arrow SAM Car | Always Forward
Sam Schmidt to Take on Mario Andretti at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
As originally published on Schmidt Peterson Motorsports online | spmindycar.com
Former INDYCAR drivers Sam Schmidt and Mario Andretti announced they will go head to head in a race next month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Schmidt Peterson Motorsports co-owner and Indianapolis 500 legend will race semi-autonomous cars on the circuit’s 2.439-mile permanent road course on May 13 ahead of the INDYCAR Grand Prix.
Sam Schmidt, who is paralyzed from the neck down, will pilot the Z06 SAM Car, a semi-autonomous vehicle that global technology company Arrow Electronics modified for him. Sensors mounted on a high-tech headset the Las Vegas resident wears connect to infrared cameras mounted on the dashboard and detect his head-tilt motions to steer. A sip-and-puff device that Schmidt breathes into enables him to accelerate and brake. Voice commands enable Sam to switch gears and turn the SAM Car on and off. Andretti will use the same technology to drive an Arrow-modified Stingray SAM Car.
