Carpentier uncertain about future

The Canadian, who claimed pole position at Loudon earlier this year, but whose car is still outside the top-35 in the owner standings, knew he could eventually lose his drive but says he hopes the team can find a sponsor to put him in a fourth car next season.

"I knew that it was a possibility," said Carpentier about losing his seat. "This is a sport that is sponsor dependent. I know the team has been working hard to find sponsorship; I'm amazed that (they) found all the sponsorship this year. Mr. Gillett is paying for some of it out of his pocket. I don't expect them to do that every year.

"For sure, it's a shock to learn someone else is taking your spot. But they are still working to get a fourth car out there - a lot of teams want to go to four cars, and this is one of them.

"Hopefully it works out. If it doesn't, for me it's a bonus. I've enjoyed the year so much. I hope to do it for many years. If I don't, then I understand."

Carpentier is currently a free agent after being told by his team to look around for other options that may be available to him and not to rely solely on GEM finding a sponsor for a fourth car.

"The team said that 'we're working to keep what it is, but we don't want to hold you up if you have something else coming'", said Carpentier. "Robert (Desrosiers - Carpentier's business manager) is here and he's the guy that found me the ride at first.

"We're going to work together - he's got a couple of meetings with a few teams. We're talking. GEM is pretty open. They know if I find something that is pretty decent and they don't have anything, I can go and take it."

The former ChampCar race-winner says there are still a number of teams that may have openings available for next year, although he reckons there are also other more experienced drivers trying to get in one of those seats.

"We're looking," he said. "There are a lot of cars that haven't decided yet. Ganassi and Penske and a few other teams...Yates and few guys want to add some cars or change. So we'll see what it is. There are a lot of guys looking out there, knocking on doors."