source:
indycar.com / By Dave Lewandowski
Fifteen minutes after the Victory Lane party moved to the Andretti Green
Racing hospitality area, Patrick Carpentier was still on pit road explaining in
animated detail to Canadian media members the adrenaline rush received from his
first IndyCar Series race.
You couldn't hide Carpentier's smile in Mammoth Cave after he finished seventh
in the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 driving the No. 83 Red Bull Cheever Racing
Dallara/Toyota/Firestone.
"I loved it. I love oval racing and for me it was fantastic," the Las Vegas
resident and Quebec native said in alternating English and French. "It was
important to get a solid base, show everybody that I can race, I can be
aggressive and finish. It allows me to be a little bit more aggressive now and
start building with the team."
Carpentier started 19th of 22 cars on the 1.5-mile variably banked oval as a
myriad of practice "gremlins" followed the entry to qualifying. But by mid-race
was in the mid-pack mix, and even led four laps.
"I never raced ovals where it demands so much concentration," said Carpentier,
33. "It's so intense and difficult for two hours. But it is fun racing.
Everybody was so nervous before the race. (Team owner) Eddie (Cheever Jr.) said
go as fast as you can but please don't crash. For me, it was hard because it's
like if I tell you don't think about the pink elephant with green spots, that's
what you have in your mind. So if someone tells me don't crash then that's all I
think about.
"It's a fun adventure and we're going to bring the car up to the front."