Three drivers passed their Indy Pro Series oval rookie tests with Sam Schmidt Motorsports at Kentucky Speedway on Oct. 18. Richard Antinucci, Bia Figueiredo and Matt Lee all successfully completed laps in an Indy Pro Series machine under the direction of series technical director Butch Meyer.
Antinucci, the nephew of 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever, won two races in the Indy Pro Series in 2007 driving only the road course events for Cheever Racing. The Kentucky test was the first opportunity for the 26-year-old to drive on an oval.
“Richard did an exceptional job, ” Meyer said. “We knew from watching him race on the road courses during the season that he is a very talented driver. I was very impressed with the feedback he gave to the engineers throughout the test. He’s a very professional race car driver.
“Bia and Matt also did a very nice job and would be very competitive racers in the Indy Pro Series. ”
Figueiredo, 22, has competed in South American Formula 3 and Formula Renault Brazil while Lee, 17, finished second in Formula BMW competition in 2006 and recorded two top-10 finishes in the Champ Car Atlantic series in 2007.
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