INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 17, 2018) – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) co-owner Sam Schmidt, alongside retired United States Navy Admiral (ADM) and the former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, James “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr., announced today the partnership between SPM and S.A.F.E. Project US. Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic is a national not-for profit organization committed to creating awareness, prevention, encouraging learning, providing resources and support for drug addiction and overdoses centered around the current opioid epidemic.
The 21st Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command lost a son to opioid addiction which launched he and his family to begin S.A.F.E. Project US to save other families from the same heartache. S.A.F.E.’s branding will be seen on the No. 5 and No. 6 Hondas driven by James Hinchcliffe and Robert Wickens, respectively, this Memorial Day weekend.
ADM Winnefeld noted, “S.A.F.E. Project US is honored that Schmidt Peterson Motorsports would allocate valuable visibility on board two of its IndyCar entries for this year’s Indianapolis 500 to highlight the importance of reversing the opioid epidemic that is devastating our country, and particularly this region of the United States. We are proud to be part of this team.”
“S.A.F.E. Project US is a no-brainer for us to get behind,” commented Sam Schmidt, co-owner of SPM. “There is a real crisis happening in the United States because of opioid addiction. If we can help shine a light on this destructive problem and provide a platform for ADM Sandy to help spread awareness, we are all in.”
Qualifying for the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place this weekend beginning on Saturday, May 19 with the broadcast on ABC at 4:00 p.m. ET. To learn more about S.A.F.E. and how you can help, please visit safeproject.us.
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About S.A.F.E. Project US
S.A.F.E. is a non-governmental non-profit organization that is committed to contributing in a tangible way to overcoming the epidemic of opioid addiction in the United States. The organization uses an action-oriented, fact-based, non-partisan approach to substantial progress through six interdependent lines of operation that address public awareness, full-spectrum prevention, prescription medicine, law enforcement and medical response, treatment and recovery and family outreach and support. The organization was founded in November 2017 by retired Navy Admiral and former ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Winnefeld and his wife Mary Winnefeld after they lost their 19-year old son, Jonathan, to an accidental opioid overdose. For more information, please visit safeproject.us.
About Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Established in 2001 and owned by former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt and Canadian businessman Ric Peterson, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) currently competes in the Verizon IndyCar Series. With a storied history in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series with over 70 wins, over 70 pole positions and seven championship wins, the Indianapolisbased team has also found success in IndyCar with five wins, two Indianapolis 500 pole positions and five poles claimed overall, as well as three top-five finishes in the championship points standings. For more information, please visit spmindycar.com.
