Lazier leaves Schmidt for Menard - to replace Ray?

Sam Schmidt has reacted angrily to the news that Jaques Lazier has left his fledgling squad and defected to Team Menard, leaving him driverless for the next round at St Louis.

Jaques, brother of reigning IRL Champion Buddy Lazier, scored Sam Schmidt Motorsports highest ever finish with a third at Nashville - and also took pole at Richmond.

However, it now appears that one of the biggest teams in IRL has poached Schmidt's star driver - perhaps as a replacement for current pilot Greg Ray (pictured), the 1999 IRL champion.

"I think it's an awesome reflection on the quality and talent of our race team," began a statement issued by Sam Schmidt. "We took a driver that wasn't even on John Menard's radar map and put him in a position to replace a championship driver."

Ray is the team's sole driver having been with John Menard's outfit since taking over Tony Stewart's seat in 1999. However, his results have slumped in the past few seasons since taking the title, with Ray suffering more than his fair share of bad luck.

Nevertheless, it would be a major upset if - as Schmidt's statement suggests - he was to lose his drive to Lazier. The only other possibility is that Menard will expand to a two-car outfit to accommodate their new signing, however the team remains tight lipped at present.

"I am not pleased with John Menard and I am disappointed in Jaques," added Schmidt, a former IRL driver himself before being paralyzed at the beginning of the 2000 season.

"The Lazier family has always been known for keeping their word. You take a look at Buddy who has stuck with Hemelgarn all these years, even through the lean times and I thought that that's what we were building with Jaques. As for St. Louis, we will pick up the pieces again and go on!" he added defiantly.

This latest blow to Sam Schmidt comes after first driver Davey Hamilton smashed both his legs in a horrendous crash at Texas Motor Speedway, Hamilton is still recovering from his injuries but may never drive again - Lazier was then signed as his replacement.

Schmidt now faces a race against time to find a suitable replacement for Lazier in time for St. Louis. An obvious choice would have been ex-CART driver Richie Hearn who raced for Schmidt at Pikes Peak this year and finished 9th, but he has just signed a testing contract with rival outfit Bradley Motorsports and so appears out of the picture