DPR Sports & Racing News

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone:

Birthday: March 3, 1980; Hometown: Marshall , Ill. ; Residence: Indianapolis , Ind.

Finished second by 0.0162 of a second and lead 34 laps in most recent 1.5-mile oval event.

Photo By Dan Peters (2009 Indy 500)

§         AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY : Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Menards Infiniti Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. It was also Carpenter's first career IndyCar Series start and driving for PDM Racing he put in a respectable rookie run starting 16^th and finishing 13^th. In 2004 with Cheever Racing, he starting 16^th again and finished 11^th. With Vision Racing in 2005, he started 19^th and finished 17^th. In 2006 he started 12^th and drove all the way to fifth which is the team's best finish at Chicagoland. In 2007 Carpenter started 14^th and finished 16^th as a result of a power failure mid-way through the race. Just last year, Carpenter started 13^th and also made a hard charge through the field from the moment the green flag was waved to sit solidly in fourth position by lap 12. While still running in the fourth spot on lap 36, Carpenter suffered a right front suspension failure and made heavy contact with the wall which ended his race early.

§         MOST RECENTLY: After qualifying in the 21^st spot at Infineon Raceway, Carpenter actually started 20^th in the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma due to a last minute tire change for fellow competitor Justin Wilson. After a first-lap incident which involved eight cars, Carpenter jumped up to the 11^th spot and ran between there and the 16^th position for the remainder of the race and even took advantage of his competitors' mishaps after the race by being credited with an 11^th place finish thanks to avoidable contact made between Marco Andretti and Scott Dixon on the last lap. Andretti was penalized and moved back several positions which moved Carpenter up. Carpenter managed to move up one spot to 12^th in the IndyCar Series championship point standings with 258 total points after 14 races (239 points behind the leader).

§         BABY ON BOARD: Just as planned, Carpenter and wife Heather (Pettigrew) welcomed their second child into the world on June 1^st as the 8 lb. 1 oz., 20 inch long Ryder Carpenter arrived on his due date. Young Ryder has been traveling the IndyCar Series circuit with his family at just a few weeks old; joining the schedule back in June for the Iowa event and tagging along ever since. Big sister, Makenna was born in October 2007, while the couple was married November 8, 2005 on the Island of St. Thomas.

§         TWEET, TWEET: With the birth of his second child in June, son Ryder, Carpenter decided it would be the perfect time to make his debut on Twitter.com as well; joining Vision Racing's Twitter efforts. You can view Carpenter's Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20 and follow the team at www.twitter.com/visionracing.

§         2009 SEASON: This is the sixth full season in IndyCar Series competition for Carpenter and the seventh season that he has participated in overall. Carpenter is looking to build off of four top-ten finishes and a career-best second place finish at Kentucky Speedway. His top-ten finishes came on the ovals of Kansas , Indianapolis , Texas and Iowa . The PEAK Indy 300 will be Carpenter's 15^th event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season.

§         LEADER LAPS: In his fifth IndyCar Series start in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 92^nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, Carpenter recorded his first laps led in an IndyCar. He led the field for three laps under caution and finished an Indianapolis 500 career-best, fifth. He led again this season for a lap at Texas Motor Speedway and again this season at Kentucky Speedway for 34 laps. He has a total of 38 career-leader laps.

§         BACK WITH MENARDS: The No. 20 Vision Racing machine again features the most recognizable car on track as it carries the day-glow yellow color of Menards for the second consecutive season. Menards returned as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, driven by Ed Carpenter. The Menards sponsorship also continues a long-lasting relationship between the home store retailer with Carpenter. The 28-year-old driver carried the Menards livery in 2002, with Sinden Racing in Firestone Indy Lights competition and well before that his days of dirt track racing behind the wheel of quarter midgets.

§         NEW VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT: Carpenter still has the same view from the cockpit that he's always had, but fans of the driver will notice a different look coming from his cockpit this season as his helmet is carrying the distinct colors and logos of the premium jean and clothing retailer, William Rast, for the 2009 season.

§         ED "CARPENTER": Carpenter and his arsenal of power tools were busy again this past off-season as he was knee deep in a house flipping project with a long time friend as well as occupied with rehab projects around his own home. Of course, Menards has been an essential part of Carpenter's home repair ventures. Prior to his current real estate investment, Carpenter and his "do-it-yourself" mentality crafted his home repair skills with his first home and family heirloom. The home is located in Speedway, Ind. was purchased as new in 1955 by stepfather Tony George's parents, Elmer and Mari George. Tony grew up in the home as a boy and for a time, drivers A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey lived in the basement.

§         DOUBLE DUTY: Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend.

§         INAUGURAL BRICKYARD WINNER: Carpenter won the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 in 2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making him an inaugural winner at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Ray Haroun ( Indianapolis 500), Jeff Gordon (Brickyard 400), and Michael Schumacher (United States Grand Prix).

§         BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: Carpenter graduated from 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifying Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., with a marketing degree in May 2003.

§         DID YOU KNOW? Carpenter enjoys water skiing, snowboarding, hunting and cycling. His racing heroes include Al Unser Jr., A.J. Foyt, and Lance Armstrong and he has two dogs; a Rottweiler named Bentley and a Chihuahua named Rosco.

§         ED AT-A-GLANCE: Carpenter is participating in his sixth season in the IndyCar Series, and his fifth with his second team in Vision Racing. The 28-year-old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an IRL Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter, who has been with the team since it's inception in 2005, is determined to make his sixth season overall, the best for both he and the team. So far he's done that with a career-best second place finish at Kentucky Speedway in August with 34 laps led

VISION RACING FACT SHEET

Infineon Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - Aug. 23, 2009

Infineon Raceway

§         TAKING THE VISION TO INFINEON: The Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma will be Vision Racing's fifth trip to Infineon Raceway. The team's best finish at Infineon came in 2007 season when Tomas Scheckter finished eighth. The Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma will be the team's 80^th IndyCar Series event since their first season in 2005.

§         WILLIAM RAST RETURNS: Vision Racing is bringing back the William Rast branded livery on the No. 20 machine which as most recently run by Carpenter during the Canadian swing through Toronto and Edmonton . This time the No. 20 William Rast Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine will ride in the sponsor's home state. William Rast, a People's Liberation subsidiary known for its stylish high-end denim, based in Los Angeles , Calif. and the premium lifestyle brand with emphasis on stylish denim, has been a mainstay on the Vision Racing body work all season. William Rast was also featured earlier in the year as a primary on the team's No. 21 car driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. Carpenter's car will feature a grey matte finish, day-glow orange accents and of course, William Rast branding.

§         TWEET-UP: @VisionRacing is getting together with @InfineonRaceway to organize a "Tweetup" on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 at the race track from 5-6 p.m. for Indy Racing League fans on hand. The gathering of Twitter followers will take place in the Wine Country Winner's Circle, following IndyCar Series qualifying for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. In addition, several IndyCar drivers who are regulars on Twitter are expected to attend the Tweetup, including Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter and fellow competitors Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kaanan, Graham Rahal, Mario Moraes and others. The Firestone Firehawk is also slated to make an appearance. Additional teams joining Vision Racing will be Luczo Dragon, KV Racing, Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Conquest Racing, Penske Racing and other team representatives will also be in attendance. Motorsports writers who Tweet will also be joining in on the fun. The Tweetup will feature light food, refreshments and giveaways from Vision Racing and Infineon Raceway. All fans have to do to attend is have a Twitter (www.Twitter.com) account and access the official invitation at http://twtvite.com/84ask4 . Only those who RSVP will be allowed at the Tweetup. The invitation does not include a Saturday event ticket; that must be purchased separately.

§         OH SO CLOSE: Earlier this month at Kentucky Speedway, Carpenter earned a career-best finish of second, led 34 laps, was the most improved driver (started 14^th) had the fastest lap of the race for the second consecutive season and put on an impressive display that stole the show as by crossing the finish line just 0.0162 of a second behind Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske. Not only was it Carpenter's career-best finish in 93 starts over six seasons, it was also Vision Racing's best oval finish and it also matched Ryan Hunter-Reay's second place finish for the team earlier this season on the streets of St. Petersburg. Hunter-Reay was runner-up to Briscoe in that race as well. It was the closest finish in the history of Kentucky Speedway and the 11^th closest finish in IndyCar Series history.

§         HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: After forming and joining the Indy Racing League in 2005, Vision Racing is celebrating its fifth season of competition in 2009. Since the team embarked upon IndyCar Series competition, eight drivers have piloted five (Nos. 2, 20, 21, 22, 90) different team entries. Those drivers have combined for an additional 45 top-10 finishes, plus 10 top-five finishes, four more podium finishes and 76 laps led. Over the previous four years the quest for the team's first victory has been top priority and Vision Racing is confident that year five will be the season where that it happens. The team's best ever finishes occurred in the 2009 as Ryan Hunter-Reay drove from 14^th to finish second in the season opener at St. Petersburg and Carpenter also drove from 14^th to second at Kentucky Speedway. Hunter-Reay's podium finish also put Vision second in the championship point standings at the time which was also its' the highest-ever ranking. The Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma will be the team's 80^th IndyCar Series event since their first season in 2005.

§         FIRST-HAND FROM THE FAMILY: Since the beginning of the season, Vision Racing team co-owner, Lauren George has been writing a blog, much to the enjoyment of the fans, which has been featured both on the team's Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/VisionRacing) and on the team's new website (www.VisionRacing.com/fans). Her highly anticipated blog post that recaps the team's weekend at Kentucky is up and ready for reading. And if that's not enough, her father and fellow team co-owner, Tony George, got into the act in Edmonton by publishing his thoughts and opinions in response to a recent announcement he made exclusively on the team's website early in July. The latter George's post drew more than 16,000 hits to the site in less than one day. The pair are planning to continue submissions periodically throughout the remainder of the season, exclusively at VisionRacing.com. Not to mention, Carpenter has begun adding a video blog to the site now in addition to his updates on his continued "tweets" at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20.

§         ON ROAD/STREET COURSES: The team's best finishes on a road or street course is second, recently scored in the 2009 season-opener at St. Petersburg by Ryan Hunter-Reay in his debut with the team. It's is also the team's highest finish overall. Prior to Hunter-Reay's podium finish, the previous best road and street course drives include a fourth place finish scored by Paul Tracy in 2008 at Edmonton, and a pair of sixth place drives; one captured by Tomas Scheckter on the streets of St. Petersburg in 2007 and the other by Ed Carpenter in 2006 at Watkins Glen International. The team's best finish at Infineon came in 2007 season when Tomas Scheckter finished eighth.

§         FIND US ONLINE, ANYTIME: In late June, the team launched the newly remodeled www.VisionRacing.com. The site not only features great design and features, but also boasts its own fan site with additional content just for fans. The site is also the hub of the team's social media experiment for the 2009 season. Vision Racing has established itself in the realm of online social media and networking via accounts at Twitter, Facebook and YouTube this season; allowing fans, friends, followers and even members of the media the opportunity to closely follow and interact with the five-year IndyCar Series participant. Be sure to follow the team's Twitter feed all race weekend long at Mid-Ohio for behind the scenes info, pictures and maybe even an impromptu, trackside "tweet-up!" The team's new site was designed by RACERSITES.COM.

§          ON LOAN: Considered a win-win situation for all involved, Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has taken over piloting duties of A.J. Foyt's No. 14 ABC Supply entry for the remainder of the 2009 IndyCar season in a deal that began at Iowa . Hunter-Reay, who drove the No. 21 Vision Honda Dallara to a second place podium finish in the 2009 season opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida, and has transferred his driving services to A.J. Foyt Racing as a temporary replacement for the injured Vitor Meira.

§         2009 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: This season's highlight to date came in the season-opener in St. Petersburg , Fla. when Ryan Hunter-Reay started 14^th and drove all the way to finish in second place and again just last weekend when Ed Carpenter also started 14^th, led 34 laps and finished second by just 0.0162 of a second at Kentucky Speedway. Carpenter has also added four top-ten finishes at Kansas , Indianapolis , Texas and Iowa .

§         AS SEEN ON TV: Patrick Dempsey joined Vision Racing prior to the 2006 season, taking on a new role that has been making hearts race in a literal way as a team co-owner. Known for his scene-stealing turns in such '80s nostalgia classics such as Can't Buy Me Love and Loverboy, Patrick Dempsey continues to please America with his explosive charisma and versatile talent. Dempsey is the star of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey's no stranger to the racetrack when he's not in front of the camera. A true racer at heart, he's currently driving professionally in Grand American Cup class sports car racing with Dempsey Racing, formerly Hypersport. He raced a Ferrari F430 GT with Team Seattle in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and also competed in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona. 

§         A TEAM WITH A VISION: Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George , their daughter Lauren George and actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis , Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition and second year of Firestone Indy Lights racing. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and Indy car racing.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone:

Birthday: March 3, 1980; Hometown: Marshall , Ill. ; Residence: Indianapolis , Ind.

Finished second by 0.0162 of a second at Kentucky earlier this month; leading 34 laps.

§         AT INFINEON RACEWAY: Carpenter has been running at the finish in all four previous attempts at Infineon Raceway. However, he is still looking for his first top-ten finish there. In his first attempt at Infineon Raceway in 2005, Carpenter started 20^th and finished 15^th with Vision Racing. In 2006 season he started 16^th and finished 12^th, in 2007 he started the race from the 14^th spot, ran as high as 12^th and ultimately finished 13^th, and last year he started and finished in the 23^rd position.

§         MOST RECENTLY: Starting from the 21^st spot, Carpenter drove a clean race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course two weeks ago. He drove as high as 13^th in the event and finished 17^th.  Unfortunately,  Carpenter fell one spot to 14^th in the IndyCar Series championship point standings with 239 total points after 13 races (221 points behind the leader).

§         BABY ON BOARD: Just as planned, Carpenter and wife Heather (Pettigrew) welcomed their second child into the world on June 1^st as the 8 lb. 1 oz., 20 inch long Ryder Carpenter arrived on his due date. Young Ryder has been traveling the IndyCar Series circuit with his family at just a few weeks old; joining the schedule back in June for the Iowa event and tagging along ever since. Big sister, Makenna was born in October 2007, while the couple was married November 8, 2005 on the Island of St. Thomas.

§         TWEET, TWEET: With the birth of his second child in June, son Ryder, Carpenter decided it would be the perfect time to make his debut on Twitter.com as well; joining Vision Racing's Twitter efforts. You can view Carpenter's Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20 and follow the team at www.twitter.com/visionracing.

§         2009 SEASON: This is the sixth full season in IndyCar Series competition for Carpenter and the seventh season that he has participated in overall. Carpenter is looking to build off of four top-ten finishes and a career-best second place finish at Kentucky Speedway. His top-ten finishes came on the ovals of Kansas , Indianapolis , Texas and Iowa . The Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma will be Carpenter's 14^th event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season.

§         LEADER LAPS: In his fifth IndyCar Series start in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 92^nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, Carpenter recorded his first laps led in an IndyCar. He led the field for three laps under caution and finished an Indianapolis 500 career-best, fifth. He led again this season for a lap at Texas Motor Speedway and again last weekend for 34 laps at Kentucky Speedway. He has a total of 38 career-leader laps.

§         BACK WITH MENARDS: The No. 20 Vision Racing machine again features the most recognizable car on track as it carries the day-glow yellow color of Menards for the second consecutive season. Menards returned as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, driven by Ed Carpenter. The Menards sponsorship also continues a long-lasting relationship between the home store retailer with Carpenter. The 28-year-old driver carried the Menards livery in 2002, with Sinden Racing in Firestone Indy Lights competition and well before that his days of dirt track racing behind the wheel of quarter midgets.

§         NEW VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT: Carpenter still has the same view from the cockpit that he's always had, but fans of the driver will notice a different look coming from his cockpit this season as his helmet is carrying the distinct colors and logos of the premium jean and clothing retailer, William Rast, for the 2009 season.

§         ED "CARPENTER": Carpenter and his arsenal of power tools were busy again this past off-season as he was knee deep in a house flipping project with a long time friend as well as occupied with rehab projects around his own home. Of course, Menards has been an essential part of Carpenter's home repair ventures. Prior to his current real estate investment, Carpenter and his "do-it-yourself" mentality crafted his home repair skills with his first home and family heirloom. The home is located in Speedway, Ind. was purchased as new in 1955 by stepfather Tony George's parents, Elmer and Mari George. Tony grew up in the home as a boy and for a time, drivers A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey lived in the basement.

§         DOUBLE DUTY: Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend.

§         INAUGURAL BRICKYARD WINNER: Carpenter won the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 in 2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making him an inaugural winner at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Ray Haroun ( Indianapolis 500), Jeff Gordon (Brickyard 400), and Michael Schumacher (United States Grand Prix).

§         BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: Carpenter graduated from 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifying Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., with a marketing degree in May 2003.

§         DID YOU KNOW? Carpenter enjoys water skiing, snowboarding, hunting and cycling. His racing heroes include Al Unser Jr., A.J. Foyt, and Lance Armstrong and he has two dogs; a Rottweiler named Bentley and a Chihuahua named Rosco.

§         ED AT-A-GLANCE: Carpenter is participating in his sixth season in the IndyCar Series, and his fifth with his second team in Vision Racing. The 28-year-old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an IRL Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter, who has been with the team since it's inception in 2005, is determined to make his sixth season overall, the best for both he and the team. So far he's done that with a career-best second place finish at Kentucky Speedway in August with 34 laps led.

o       Highest Career Start: 4^th - Michigan International Speedway , 2006/Vision Racing

o       Highest Career Finish: 2^nd  - Kentucky Speedway , 2009/Vision Racing

o       Laps Led: 38

o       Top-5's: 4

o       Top-10's: 25

o       Starts: 95

o       Running at Finish: 68 (71.6%)    

About the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma : The Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway air live on Sunday, Aug. 23^rd  at 5:00 p.m. ET on VERSUS, as well as IMS Radio Network, XM IndyCar Series Racing Channel 145, XM Sports Nation Channel 144 and on the web at www.IndyCar.com.

About Vision Racing:  Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George as well as actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis , Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition. The team features returning IndyCar Series driver Ed Carpenter and welcomed veteran Ryan Hunter-Reay for the start of the 2009 season. Also new for 2009 is a return to the Firestone Indy Lights Series with driver James Davison, as well as a technical partnership with new FIL team Bryan Herta Autosport and driver Daniel Herrington. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Racing.