Experience meets passion at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
In 2016, Indy NXT News highlighted the unique partnership between veteran driver Oriol Servia and first-time team owner Will Marotti, who joined forces to compete in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Driving the No. 77 Honda with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, the pairing blended Servia’s steady experience with Marotti’s energy and determination.
Servia’s proven track record
Servia, a 41-year-old Spaniard with an engineering degree, entered his eighth Indianapolis 500 with consistency and resilience on his side. In five of his previous seven starts, he completed all 200 laps and never finished worse than 11th. His best result came in 2012, when he crossed the line fourth for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
With past stints at legendary teams like Newman/Haas Racing — where he finished runner-up in the 2005 CART championship — and a recent substitute drive for Team Penske, Servia arrived at Indianapolis ready to prove he could still deliver against the sport’s full-time competitors.
Marotti’s bold first step
For Will Marotti, the 2016 race represented the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. A fan since 1969, Marotti transformed his passion into action by forming Marotti Racing and aligning with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports co-owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson.
“I’m under no delusions here,” Marotti admitted. “What we bring now is passion, enthusiasm, and some money. Our goal for this year was to introduce the brand and get a footprint, really looking toward building for the future.”
His vision was clear: learn as much as possible, build long-term credibility, and carve a place for Marotti Racing in the IndyCar paddock.
Building for the future
The partnership of Servia and Marotti was more than a one-off experiment. Servia’s steady hands and Marotti’s enthusiasm signaled a foundation for growth. For sponsors, it was evidence that the team combined competitive credibility with a compelling human story — the kind of narrative that resonates both on and off the racetrack.
