Racing Legend Mario Andretti Goes Head-to-head with Sam Schmidt in World’s First Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Race
Sam vs. Mario
Racing legend Mario Andretti went head-to-head with former Indy Racing League driver and current Verizon IndyCar Series team co-owner Sam Schmidt in the world’s first semi-autonomous vehicle demonstration race earlier this month at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Schmidt, who is paralyzed from the chest down, drove a Corvette Z06 that global technology company Arrow Electronics has modified so he can drive it using only the motions of his head. Andretti challenged Schmidt in a similar, Arrow-modified Corvette Stingray.
The legendary faceoff raised $10,000 (and counting) for Conquer Paralysis Now, a leading nonprofit authority on spinal cord injury research and treatment founded by Schmidt. Fans were encouraged to make a $10 donation and root for their favorite driver during the race by texting either “Sam” or “Mario” to 50555. Donations are still being accepted via text and through the Conquer Paralysis Now website, conquerparalysisnow.org.
The Semi-autonomous Motorcar, or SAM Car, that Arrow built for Schmidt was named the best car innovation of 2016 by the news website Business Insider. The Arrow-driven project aims to enable drivers with physical disabilities to experience the mobility and independence of driving again by leveraging the power of technology. All of the software and technology that Arrow develops for the car is open to the developer and engineering communities and has promising broader applications for independent living.
Last year, Schmidt was granted the first restricted autonomous vehicle license in the U.S. by the state of Nevada. He also reached 152 mph at IMS in the SAM Car during demonstration laps before the Indianapolis 500, and tackled the hairpin twists and turns of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
The SAM Car project is a collaborative venture between Arrow Electronics, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Conquer Paralysis Now and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. Keep up with the SAM Car project on Twitter by following #ArrowDriven.
About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 125,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 465 locations serving over 90 countries. Learn more at www.fiveyearsout.com.
