Round Two of the IndyCar Series at Phoenix
source: Max d'Orsonnens
Patrick Carpentier always enjoyed racing on short one-mile oval tracks during
his Champ Car career which spanned eight seasons. During that period, he set lap
records that still stand at Nazareth and at the Milwaukee Mile. The Canadian
driver, who moved to the Indy Racing League IndyCar® Series during the
off-season, will again put his driving skills to the test this weekend at the
one-mile Phoenix International Raceway.
The two-day XM Satellite Radio INDY 200 affair will begin Friday with two
practice sessions and one qualifying round. The Round 2, 200-lap race, is
scheduled to start Saturday at 1:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. EDT). The Red
Bull Cheever Racing driver tested the Phoenix track for the first time last
February during the IRL Winter Open Tests. He fared well placing 10th overall in
the first day and 14th in the rain-shortened second day of testing. In the
season opener at Homestead-Miami two weeks ago, Carpentier finished seventh, on
the lead lap, after starting 19th on the grid.
''I am still adjusting to a new team and we have a lot to learn'', Carpentier
said, following a brief engine test with Toyota at Phoenix earlier this week. .
''We don't expect to win our next race, but we are running on a short oval, the
type of track I've achieved some success in the past. To be successful this
weekend, we have to qualify in the top 10, and stay close to the leaders during
the race. Unfortunately, the new Toyota engine will not power our cars at
Phoenix, but on this track, power is not all that is required. We also need a
great car set up. My engineers will have to find the right compromise in balance
and downforce as the track has a unique banking configuration. The team has
modified the aerodynamics and suspensions on the car, and Friday, we will see
how the Dallara chassis responds to the changes.''