Sam is best known in the racing world for his back-to-back Indy Racing League championships in 2001 and 2002. He took the ride of a lifetime in late 2003 when longtime racer and team owner Roger Penske offered him the no. 6 Marlboro Team Penske ride vacated by 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil DeFerran. Sam has a new owner, new crew, new teammate, and a new outlook on life. He’s now driving for one of the best teams in IndyCar series history and will surely continue on his quest for another championship.

FAST FACTS BIRTH DATE: July 2, 1979 HOMETOWN: Defiance, Ohio RESIDES: Defiance, Ohio HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5’11’’/165 MARITAL STATUS: Married WEBSITE: www.samhornish.com STARTS: 60 FIRST START: 1/29/00 (Disney World) MBNA POLES: 3 FIRST POLE: 3/2/02 (Homestead) WINS: 11 FIRST WIN: 3/18/01 (Phoenix) BEST POINTS FINISH: 1st (2001, 2002) CAREER EARNINGS: $6,800,455

I met up with Sam at his motorcoach during a practice day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was dressed in his racing suit and peeling his way through an orange as we sat down inside to discuss the world of radio control.

RC DRIVER—What are your earliest memories of RC cars?

SAM HORNISH—When I was little I had some of the toy store cars. I had an Al Unser Jr. Indy Car. I don’t remember who made it, but I got it when I was about eight-years-old. One year later, at Christmas, I got an off-road buggy that was electric. I can’t remember who made it either but I am sure I will remember it before you leave! I played with the off-road buggy for a long time. I lived out in the country so I had a great place to play. About that time I also started racing go-karts, so I definitely had my hands full with racing, homework and everything else. I really focused on go-karts and full-size cars until a few years ago.

RC DRIVER—Jump ahead a few years. What got you back into RC?

SAM HORNISH—A few years ago I bought an HPI Nitro RS4. I think it was the end of 2000 when I picked it up. I played with it all the time and I finally talked my brother into getting one so I would have someone to race against. We had fun for a while until the true competitors came out in both of us, and we would accuse each other of cheating.

RC DRIVER—Did you ever race the RS4 competitively?

SAM HORNISH—No, I just use it to bash around with my brother. Early in 2001 I made a deal with my team owner. I was with Panther Racing then and I said that if I won the championship, I wanted him to buy me a 1/4 scale RC car. At the end of the year and after I won my first championship, he finally came up to me and asked, “When are we going to pick out that RC car you wanted?” I finally settled on a 1/4 scale Winston Cup car. I put it together and did all of the little things I knew how to do then before I was able to run it. That winter, one of my friends was running indoor carpet cars. He let me drive his indoor car three or four times here in Indianapolis.

RC DRIVER—Where did you race in Indianapolis?

SAM HORNISH—At HobbyTown USA on the north side of town. Sonny Brown let me race all of his stuff. He eventually helped me get my 1/4 scale car finished. I had intended on racing the 1/4 scale car when they had the nationals here in Indy. I went out a few times to practice before the nationals. I felt really bad: I had someone paint the body like the white Kevin Harvick Goodwrench car. He even painted all of the decals to match the full-size car exactly. I was out practicing and got a little loose coming out of a corner, and another guy T-boned me and flipped me over. I slid on my lid all the way down the straight. I know the guy who painted my car would be mad at me but, what can I say, I was pushing it!

RC DRIVER—Do you currently have any RC cars that you take on the road with you?

SAM HORNISH—I don’t take anything with me currently. I really like building the cars almost more than I like driving them. I currently have an all-aluminum nitro sprint car that I am hand-building.

RC DRIVER—Really!?

SAM HORNISH—Yeah, I used a lot of parts from an HPI Nitro MT for the drivetrain. It’s actually a straight axle rather than four-wheel independent. I currently have the front and rear axles done. I have to finish the four link and the pan hard bars. I also need to do the body work. Pretty much everything else is done, like the frame. Everything is contained inside, so the only thing that sticks out is the stinger for the exhaust pipe. I used an O.S. CV-R .12 engine for it, which was brand-new for O.S. at the time.

RC DRIVER—Did you design the whole car?

SAM HORNISH—Yep, everything. I mean, I used parts from here and there, but for the most part it’s mine.

RC DRIVER—Any chance we could get some pictures?

SAM HORNISH—Well, I have to finish it first!

RC DRIVER—A lot of guys in the IRL like to take nitro monster trucks with them. Do you have any nitro monster trucks?

SAM HORNISH—The only truck I have is the Losi Mini-T. I took it with me to Japan this year for the Twin Ring Motegi Race. It was a lot of fun and I raced it around quite a bit when I was there. You know, my first year with Panther Racing, I did take an RC car with me on the road almost every time, now that I think about it. But now my schedule is so full that it is impossible to make time. Back then, my brother would go to all of the races with me, which gave me someone to race against. I can only do it for so long when it’s just me.

RC DRIVER—Thanks for taking the time to hang out and talk RC. I’m excited to see you race in the RC Driver Indy Challenge coming up next week, and good luck in the other big race at the end of the month!

SAM HORNISH—Thanks, I think the Indy Challenge will be fun. I shouldn’t have too much trouble winning! (Laughs)

Well, Sam was right! He easily took first place in the 2004 RC Driver Indy Challenge. His Team Associated TC3 and custom-painted Toyota Celica body will be on ebay (see our website www.rcdriver.com for details) to raise money for the Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. We wish Sam the best of luck for the remainder of the 2004 season. Hopefully, he will be back for the 2005 RC Driver Indy Challenge to defend his title!

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