INDIANAPOLIS — Townsend Bell will contest the 2011 Indianapolis 500 behind the wheel of the No. 99 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Honda with backing from Herbalife this season.
This marks the second-straight season Bell has partnered with Herbalife, a global nutrition and direct-selling company, and Schmidt to enter the Indianapolis 500, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this season.
“Being in competitive equipment has always been important to me in my career,” said Bell, the 2001 Firestone Indy Lights champion. “With this being the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, I am excited that I’ll be returning to the Speedway with a team and sponsor that will allow me to run up front. Partnering with Herbalife allows Sam’s team to prepare a great racecar, and I can’t wait to climb back in it.”
This year is Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ 10th anniversary of fielding cars in the Indianapolis 500. SSM was formed in 2001 after Schmidt’s own driving career ended in a 2000 testing accident in Orlando, Fla. Driver Davey Hamilton started 26th in the 2001 Indy 500 in a Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara and finished 23rd.
“It’s a thrill to be partnered again with Herbalife and Townsend Bell for the Indianapolis 500,” Schmidt said. “This will be the first time competing in the Indy 500 that our team will be returning with the same driver, sponsor and engineering combination. The continuity will be fantastic and, hopefully, we can improve on our great performance last year.”
Practice for the 2011 Indianapolis 500 begins May 14 and the 100th-anniversary race is May 29.