Carpentier Off To IRL
Written by Scott Keller · September 30, 2004
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Photo: Champ Car
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In some unfortunate news for Champ Car, it is reported that Patrick Carpentier will soon announce that he will be moving over to the IRL with Eddie Cheever’s Red Bull Racing team.
TSN.ca: Carpentier signs with IRL
SPEEDtv.com: Report - Carpentier Set for IRL Next Season
I guess the Yen are calling Patrick’s name.
Champ Car needs a strong Canadian presence to stay strong in Canadian markets, which are generally the biggest races on the schedule other than Mexico. I’m sure this is part of the IRL’s plan to take over the Canadian races that they have been salivating over.
I just hope Patrick doesn’t start bashing Champ Car like Dario Franchitti, Michael Andretti, and their ilk. Champ Car is where Patrick became a semi-star. He didn’t exactly dominate, so I really hope he doesn’t start trash talking about how the IRL is so superior.
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7 Responses to “Carpentier Off To IRL”
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Well…according to Patrick no one will make him an offer Champ Car. What’s a boy to do but go to where people want you? Also interesting is that he is “expected” to replace Alex Barron at Cheever. A little rediculous as Barron is definitely the better half of the current Cheever line-up…but…oh wait…isn’t Ed Carpenter related to Tony George!? Ah…now I get it.
I have to agree with Scott. The IRL should be looking through their rose coloured glasses at the carcass of CART. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that you are on the same path you wanted to get away from. Remember Tony: ” an oval only series that gives american drivers a chance.” I will allow for a larger American presence than in Champ Car (barely) but hey, aren’t you going road racing? and on a temporary curcuit? What would AJ say? (that’s right, he’s only a minor player in your plans now.
How long will Toyaota & Honda continue to support the indy 500 slide into obscurity? When will Andretti start touting that Champ Car is better? Oh yeah, when the checks don’t bounce!
I thought all those guys were dead?!
So, in the end, Tony gets what he wanted all along - controlling interest in open wheel racing in the US . It’s a shame the cars are not much more than carbon fiber stock cars.
Champ car definitely has an interesting (but frustrating) show, but can’t figure out how to sell it.
I’ll miss Champ car, but I really think I’ll have trouble accepting IRL.
P.S. I want Champ car to succeed - I encourage people to watch as much as possible - but it’s just not looking too good. The mishandling of officiating will kill it.
I agree with you on the officiating issues. Heck, the rules package is just way messed up. For instance, the manditory pit stops are just stupid!
Pit strategy, including fuel conservation, is a part of racing. I know that fuel conservation races are less exciting, but that is why I’ve thought they should reduce the fuel cell capacity so that they have to stop a certain number of times each race. Do something except dumb-down the rules package.
openwheel racing is still the best no mater where you go. I still prefer the dirt but I am old. The USAC guys are the best drivers as they not only do pavement but “DO IT IN THE DIRT’
I agree with many of the comments here. I hope as well that Carpentier won’t start bashing Champ Car when he leaves for Cheever. One thing I would encourage Champ Car to understand is that Our Good Friend Tony George considers this a real war with Champ Car, and will use every tactical approach he has available to him. His attempt this year to legally bulldoze the assets of CART; his luring of Bobby Rahal and Adrian Fernandez, who found Honda’s money far too tempting as did Michael Andretti; and his attempt more recently to drive a wedge between Carl Haas (trying to bring in Haas but extorting him to shut down the Champ Car operation) and TG antagonist Paul Newman, which, thankfully, failed. Tony George has disregarded just about everything he says he started the IRL for, to bring in American drivers, race at ovals, and to keep huge corporate money from having too much influence. He hasn’t kept any of those promises. The motorsports media, for the most part, hasn’t called him on it, except for Robin Miller, who has been consistently critical of Tony’s obsession. The cost of this war to the IRL’s soul: 1996 Indy 500 Champ Buddy Lazier can’t get a ride? Sarah Fisher is going NASCAR? Yikes…
Mark, you are right on in your analysis of the situation.
Bill, you are right on too…..the best guys are doing it on the dirt. I used to hate dirt track racing, until I moved to the Pacific Northwest, where winged sprint cars are “the thing”. I had no choice but to either get into sprint car racing or not have any good racing to watch at all. I started going to Skagit Speedway every week and got hooked on 410 sprint car racing really quick!