Carpentier calm despite pressure of qualifying
By SceneDaily Staff Report
Friday, November 09, 2007
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AVONDALE, Ariz. - Patrick Carpentier is hoping to begin his tenure as full-time driver of the No. 10 Valvoline Evernham Racing Dodge by making the field for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
However, if the driver does not make the race, his career plans will not be disrupted. Aside from filling in for the team in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series road-course race at Watkins Glen International earlier this season, Carpentier hasn't had a lot of time behind the wheel of the car - or in stock cars at all. An open-wheel veteran, he's making the leap to NASCAR by joining a team that is currently outside the top 35 in owners points and one that must therefore qualify based on speed today.
Still, he's not overwhelmed by nervousness as he prepares to make his attempt. The Cup cars practice once today, with qualifying set for 7:40 p.m. EST.
Carpentier has done all he can to prepare. He not only drove the car in the NASCAR test at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week, but he also tested his qualifying runs at Memphis Motorsports Park this week and plans to test the traditional car at Kentucky Speedway in the days after the Phoenix race in preparation for his attempt to make the season finale at Homestead.
He has veteran Jimmy Kitchens on the spotter stand, and veteran Ken Schrader is helping him learn the nuances of driving a stock car.
With all of that working for him, Carpentier is taking an optimistic approach to the qualifying run, though he is realistic in his expectations.
"... It's not too bad, actually," Carpentier said Friday about any nervousness. "I would say yesterday and at times, it was a bit of stress. Then you kind of talk to yourself and make it go away. But no matter what happens, I think it¹s a learning process, and it¹s to get ready for Daytona next year.
"I want to make it, and hopefully I make the race this weekend, but if not, to me, it's all preparation for Daytona next year and next season. I'll get the opportunity to run the car quite a bit more. We'll have a lot of tests scheduled, and we'll do the Busch [race] at Homestead, also, so there's a lot of stuff coming."
The Canadian driver says that he's confident he can master this type of racing, but after only three days of working with the setup on this car, he's not unrealistic about the challenges he faces.
"We'll see how it goes, but it's a live-and-learn thing," he said. "I cannot come in and just like know everything and be on pole this weekend, I'm not expecting that, but for me it's a first step.
"We make the race, I'll be really happy. That's what I want to do and that's what I think we can do. If we don't, I'll go test this week and go back to Homestead, and for me, I have to be ready for Daytona, and that's what I want."
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Ken Schrader
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