Throughout testing and practice, Ed Carpenter Racing showed some of the best speed of any team. However, for Ed Carpenter in the race, it didn’t go as planned.
With 54 laps to go, Carpenter would go to make a move underneath Will Power, get a little loose, slide up into the marbles. Once the hot tires hit the dirty part of the track, it was over as the veteran made significant contact with the outside turn four wall.
“I got a run on Will out of 2, thought I was maybe going to be able to get inside in 3,” he said. “It wasn’t going to happen. He raced me hard, but clean. And, when I backed out to fall back in line. I just picked up a little bit of understeer and got the marbles, which is a shame for the Fuzzy/s Vodka car.”
Before the incident, Carpenter had solidly kept himself in contention for a solid finish, running with the front runners.
“The team has put Josef and I in a great position all weekend,” he said. “It’s been really hard to pass out there, which is surprising. After the warm-up I thought it was going to be a really racy race but everyone just kind of equalized tonight.”
Rather than happiness, Carpenter was left with frustration, stating he should’ve been one of the drivers in the hunt for the win.
“I feel terrible for the team. I let these guys down. I only get five times a year at this on the ovals.”
The incident also marks a continuation of last year’s frustrations. He ran six events, with four of those ending in DNFs due to engine failures and crashes.
Certainly the American is hoping this season isn’t a continuation of that.