Open-Wheel Career
In 2005, Carpentier drove for the Red Bull-sponsored team run by Eddie Cheever in the Indy Racing League. Prior to this he spent nearly a decade in the rival Champ Car series with Bettenhausen as a rookie, but subsequently in the team owned by Gerry Forsythe. In his early years he was prone to missing races through injuries, some of which originated off-track.
His first Champ Car victory came in 2001 at Michigan and he then took third in the championship in 2002. Carpentier was 5th overall in a disappointing 2003 season (compared to title-winning team-mate Paul Tracy). This weakened his position within the team and he was briefly fired in 2004, later being reinstated in a third team car, allegedly because of his marketing popularity in his homeland. (Team boss Gerry Forsythe was also a part-owner of the series.)
Despite finishing higher than Paul Tracy in the 2004 championship, Carpentier left the team and the series to join Eddie Cheever's Indy Racing League Indy Car Series Cheever Racing. Due to his excellent record on oval tracks he was expected to do well (most of the IndyCar Series races are on ovals which had become virtually extinct in Champ Car), but uncompetitive Toyota engines prevented any major success.
Cheever lost its Red Bull sponsorship after the season and Carpentier was left without a ride as the now unsponsored team scaled back its IndyCar involvement dramatically.
In his eight years in Champ Car, Carpentier finished in the top 10 74 times, and stood on the podium 22 times. In his one year in the IRL, he finished with 11 top 10's.
Read more about this topic: Patrick Carpentier
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