Patrick Carpentier may be the track record holder on the 1-mile oval at
The Milwaukee Mile, but on July 7 the Red Bull Cheever Racing driver
took his talents to another oval.
source: indycar.com / By Tim Harms Carpentier laced up his skates at the Pettit National Ice Center, a training center for the U.S. Olympic team that is just a stone's throw away from the historic racetrack. The 24-year-old IndyCar Series driver took to the 400-meter oval with five-time gold medal-winning speed skater Bonnie Blair, four-time Olympian Dave Cruikshank and two-time Olympian Dave Tamburrino during a promotional visit for the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 on July 24. Carpentier, a native of Quebec, was a competitive speed skater as a youth. Coincidentally, Carpentier and Tamburrino skated against each other in international competitions several times as youths. "Patrick was so dominant in speed skating when we were kids growing up," said Tamburrino, who competed in the 1994 and 1998 Olympics and now coaches young speed skaters. "In fact, had he kept speed skating, there's no doubt he would have been one of the best short track speed skaters in the world. We had a very, very competitive age group, and there are a fair amount of skaters who went on to not only compete in the Olympics, but win Olympic medals, and Patrick was dominant. "Growing up, every year I would say, 'This is going to be my year to beat Patrick.' And he still would always come out on top." Carpentier stopped speed skating and started racing because of his success on the ice. As a reward for a successful event, Carpentier's father took him go-karting. He's been racing cars ever since.
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