INDYCAR: Hamilton Rejoins Schmidt, HP To Sponsor Pagenaud

After telling Marshall Pruett he would likely sign with a different team, Davey Hamilton reverses course and returns to Schmidt with Hewlett-Packard.

Marshall Pruett | Posted February 06, 2013

Simon Pagenaud will sport HP colors once again this season. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

One week after telling SPEED.com he would likely sign with a different team, Davey Hamilton has reversed course and will return with sponsor Hewlett-Packard to support the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entry.

“I'm definitely not signed with Sam [Schmidt], and I don't know that I will,” Hamilton said last Tuesday. “There's other opportunities out there that make sense for my program a little better. And so I've got to make a decision quickly.”

Subsequent negotiations with Schmidt allowed Hamilton to find a happier common ground to keep his HP funding paired with the Honda-powered No. 77 driven by 2012 Rookie of the Year Simon Pagenaud.

"Ric Peterson and I worked directly on this deal; Sam was busy and couldn't make it, but it was really easy with the Petersons and I think we'll have a great season together," Hamilton told SPEED.com. The IndyCar veteran also clarified the different SHM/SPM nomenclature that will be seen with the team's two-car program.

"The easiest way to explain it is Schmidt Peterson owns the entire team," he said. "The Schmidt Hamilton entry for Simon Pagenaud with HP is the No. 77 car, and the No. 55 for Tristan [Vautier] is the Schmidt Peterson entry. I'm working with them and they are working with me and it's like two entries under one team. When you see me at the track, I'll have a shirt on that has Schmidt Hamilton on one side, and Schmidt Peterson on the other."

Hamilton also revealed that his longstanding relationship with HP has evolved to include more tech companies on the No. 77.

"The great news is we've come together with Sam and Ric, and along with HP, we will continue to grow together," said Hamilton. "We're bringing two more sponsors--Microsoft and Intel--to the team so you'll see some new companies investing in our team and investing in IndyCar.

"Everyone knows sponsorship is hard to come by right now, so this is a really good sign when Microsoft and Intel get involved."

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.