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Carpenter Takes 23rd in Belle Isle Qualifying

Topics: Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix presented by ShopAutoWeek.com

Carpenter Takes 23rd in Belle Isle Qualifying

Tom Blattler
Ed Carpenter Racing
June 2, 2012

June 2nd 2012 - DETROIT – It wasn’t the best of days for Ed Carpenter and his team Saturday at the Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix.

Carpenter was attempting to improve his speed at the 2.1-mile, 14-mile street circuit when another problem cropped up in the morning practice session. A braking issue limited Ed’s time on the track as the team prepared for qualifications for Sunday’s 90-lap feature set to begin at 3:45 p.m.

Unfortunately, Carpenter’s No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet never came to grips with the tricky track surface in the 15-minute qualifying round and the former sprint car and midget racer will start 23rd in the 25-car field. Carpenter’s best time was one minute, 14.881 seconds for an average speed of 99.517 miles per hour.

The frustration for the Butler University graduate was evident when he jumped from his car after time trials. But Ed spent time working with engineers Matt Barnes and Brent Harvey to develop a strategy for Sunday’s main event.

In preparation for the Grand Prix, the Bret Schmitt-led crew went through the entire Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevy Dallara in search of some of the difficulties suffered Saturday. The team now believes the car is repaired for the sixth race of the 16-race IZOD IndyCar Series. The Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix will be televised on ABC-TV.

Scott Dixon won the pole position Saturday at 105.976 m.p.h.

“That was pretty frustrating today,” said Carpenter. “In the morning session, we had a braking issue and didn’t get many laps. Then the car just wasn’t what we needed in qualifying. I was almost spinning out at several corners. We’ll have to go through everything and get a better direction with the car for the race. I thought we would be better coming here after the Brazil race, but it just hasn’t been a good weekend so far. We need to keep our heads down and keep working hard right now.”