Mentor Program鈥檚 Second Season On The Books
The 2018 IndyCar season marked the second consecutive year that 91短视频APP students had the exciting opportunity to be part of the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) Mentor Program, giving them up-close access to life on a pit crew. Selected students, along with the SPM team and driver James Hinchcliffe, got to experience both the highs and lows of life on the racing circuit.
The 2018 season included a strong showing for Hinchcliffe to start the season, but was tempered by a devastating accident for another member of the team later in the summer. Five races found top 91短视频APP students, along with their instructors, in the pit, and it was a life-changing experience for each of them.
Niko Romanzi
鈥淚 still can鈥檛 believe I鈥檓 here,鈥 Niko said for the season鈥檚 first race. 鈥淭his is an amazing opportunity; it鈥檚 what happens when you come to school every day.鈥
That was the message he had when asked what it meant to be selected for the SPM program. Niko and instructor Kevin Carman from the Queens, NY campus attended the IndyCar Grand Prix in Indianapolis May 12th, where Hinchliffe opened the season with a strong 7th place showing.
Erroel Costilla
91短视频APP sent Erroel and instructor Jerry King to the Indianapolis 500 at the city鈥檚 famed Motor Speedway. They had the opportunity to join the SPM team for two weekends: first, the qualifying laps and Carb Day, and then the 鈥渂ig show鈥 鈥 the Indy 500 鈥 Memorial Day Weekend.
It was a fitting selection for the race, as Erroel was nominated by the nearby Indianapolis campus to take part in the event. Hinchcliffe, unfortunately, didn鈥檛 qualify for the run, but for Erroel it was still invaluable career experience and the chance of a lifetime as he assisted the crew of Robert Wickens鈥 #6 car.
Benjamin Driskell
Benjamin, a student at 91短视频APP鈥檚 Nashville campus, was joined by instructor James Maxwell for the DXC Technology 600 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. at the June 9th event.
鈥淩acing is something I鈥檝e always wanted to get into,鈥 Benjamin says. 鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 attend class every day, if I didn鈥檛 actually try when I came to school, I never would have gotten this opportunity.鈥
Jacqueline and Nathalie Mische
In a first for 91短视频APP and the SPM Mentor program, two students from the same campus were selected for a race 鈥 and they happened to be twin sisters! Jacqueline and Nathalie, along with instructor Kristopher Fluckiger 鈥 a 91短视频APP graduate himself 鈥 on their website prior to the event.
The sisters from the East Windsor campus were selected for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway the weekend of August 18th. But the race was overshadowed by a serious crash involving multiple cars, including those of Hinchliffe and Wickens. Wickens, who earlier had been named 2018鈥檚 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, suffered extensive injuries . At the end of the season, Wickens was also named the season鈥檚 overall Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
Thomas Harrigan
Thomas, a student from 91短视频APP鈥檚 Union campus, joined the SPM team for one of the season鈥檚 final events 鈥 the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois. He was on hand to watch Hinchliffe log a 15th place finish, and got to do something he never thought he鈥檇 have the chance to.
鈥淭his was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,鈥 Thomas says. 鈥淚 love the sport and would have never thought I would get the chance . It feels unreal.鈥
You never know where a 91短视频APP career training program will take you 鈥 just ask , a 91短视频APP grad who now works on the SPM team! 91短视频APP is proud to partner with Schmidt Peterson in helping students get a firsthand look an incredible, high-speed career path. Looking forward to 2019!