A disk drive having a spindle motor and a head stack assembly. The spindle motor has a spindle motor hub having an axis of rotation. The spindle motor has a magnet radially attached about the spindle motor hub. The spindle motor has a spindle motor stator having a stator rim and a plurality of stator teeth arrayed about and internally extending from the stator rim towards the axis of rotation. The stator teeth are fit about the magnet in operable communication therewith for rotating the spindle motor hub. At least one of the stator teeth is a bare stator tooth and the head stack assembly pivots over the bare stator tooth. In another embodiment a reduced winding height stator tooth is provided with head stack assembly pivoting over the reduced winding height stator tooth.