¦ January 31, 2009
FDA RULING BRINGS SAM SCHMIDT CLOSER TO TAKING A STEP
PRESS RELEASE from Sam Schmidt Motorsports

LAS VEGAS - Former IndyCar Series racer and current Firestone Indy Lights
Series team owner Sam Schmidt dreams of the day that he can stand out of his
wheelchair, hug his loved ones, shake hands with business colleagues, and
above all, return to a "normal" life.

With news last week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
approved embryonic stem cell trials, Schmidt's dream has become one leap
closer to reality.  The trials will allow researchers to test the safety and
effects of stem cells in spinal cord injured patients.

"This is a huge step forward for the spinal cord injury research industry!"
Schmidt said.  "I can't even begin to explain how excited I am.  It's not
like winning the Indy 500, but it's pretty darn close."

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) helped fund the initial stages
of the research on this therapy when it was being studied by Dr. Hans
Kierstad at the University of California, Irvine.  Once its validity was
proven, Geron, a biopharmaceutical company, bought the process and spent $45
million in pursuing the FDA's approval for human clinical trials.  Now,
researchers look to this summer to begin its human tests.

Schmidt was involved in a serious crash during testing at the Walt Disney
World Speedway in January of 2000.  The incident left him as a quadriplegic,
but it hasn't slowed him down.

He has been one of the most active proponents and speakers about spinal cord
injury, and his foundation's motto, "Racing to Recovery," is a real-life
statement in Schmidt's own life.  He spends more than 100 days a year
traveling to help raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury
research.

In a time when the world is facing economic collapse, Schmidt has optimism
in things turning around for the better, thanks in part with the recent
inauguration of U.S. President Barrack Obama.

"The message of the Obama administration is 'hope' and 'change,'" Schmidt
said.  "This is the perfect example of a fantastic way to launch that
campaign."

Now that Schmidt can see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel,"
Schmidt is racing faster than ever to help in making strides in research,
and he hopes that those who are aware of his cause will aid in the efforts.

He said, "More than ever, we need support as research will move
exponentially quicker in the coming years."

The President of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, Ida Cahill, echoed
those sentiments.  She said, "The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation's mission
is to cure paralysis.  This is a great moment in time and the breakthrough
we've all been waiting and working so hard to achieve.  It is a message of
hope but the foundation can't do it alone.  We need everyone to go to
www.samschmidt.org to make a donation and help us continue our mission."

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