Trio of former Indy 500 winners enjoy modest runs
By SceneDaily Staff Report
Monday, November 12, 2007
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CHRIS GRAYTHEN / GETTY IMAGES /
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AVONDALE, Ariz. - While having three former Indianapolis 500 winners in Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 gained a lot of prerace publicity, the trio had modest expectations of what would happen over the course of the event.
Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier and Sam Hornish Jr. have each signed to drive full time for Cup teams in 2008. At Phoenix International Raceway, all three were in the position of having to actually qualify based on speed to even make the race. But each was successful in that endeavor, Villeneuve in his No. 27 Bill Davis Racing Toyota, Carpentier in his No. 10 Valvoline Evernham Racing Dodge and Hornish in his No. 06 Penske Racing Dodge.
They were less fortunate in the actual race, though.
Hornish finished 30th, two laps off the pace, Carpentier 33rd and Villeneuve was 41st after an accident with Kasey Kahne.
Villeneuve hit Kahne on the backstretch, moving up after failing to see the driver on his outside.
"We were all the way up there and there was someone on the inside, and I didn't know there was someone on the outside and I just noticed them once I was already spun and touched them," he said. "I'm not sure what exactly happened, and I'm very sorry."
For Hornish, who took seven attempts to make a Cup race, just getting into the race and getting some experience was crucial.
"I just wanted to go out there and finish the race," he said. "I said a couple times, finishing in the top 30 would be a pretty good day as far as I was concerned. I guess we hit it right on the head. ... It's been two months since I ran this long of a race. It's been a little tough. It's probably the longest I've ever run in one of these cars with all the heat; I drank probably 10 bottles throughout the day and still feel dehydrated."
Carpentier, meanwhile, spent the weekend listening to his teammates and veteran driver Ken Schrader, who is working with him as he transitions to Cup.
Running the entire race was a bit of an accomplishment itself.
"I'm very happy," Carpentier said. "I'm not happy with the speed, for sure, but we ran all day. It's the first race. ... I didn't want to be in anybody's way. I gave a lot of hand waves to go by, and that is important for future races."
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kasey Kahne
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