Carpenter elated with maiden IndyCar win

An elated Ed Carpenter said scoring his breakthrough IndyCar victory felt better than he could ever have predicted

Carpenter triumphed in a thrilling last-gasp duel with Dario Franchitti, taking the chequered flag just 0.0098s ahead of the Scot.

That handed him a maiden victory which had at one point looked unlikely, Carpenter having to drive one-handed as the bolts on his visor came off.

"It felt way better than I ever thought it was going to feel," he said. "It has taken a long time to get our first win but we're finally here and it feels unbelievable.

"It was a weird race, I had my visor falling off and all kinds of stuff going on, but I wouldn't let that stop me from winning a race - I drove 15 or 20 laps one-handed waiting until our pit stop.

"Dario raced me hard and clean [at the finish], but I knew we had a better car than him after the second or third stint. The team made awesome changes all day, and we were really good on the restarts.

"When I was racing Dario I had to check one time that we had enough fuel, but then I think about nine laps from the end I knew I could beat him. I had one more push to pass than him and it worked."

shares
comments

Power philosophical after costly pitlane collision

Dario Franchitti not thinking about fourth title yet despite retaking IndyCar lead

The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner

The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
Indy 500
David Malsher-Lopez

The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner

Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives

Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Kevin Turner

Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives

How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled

How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
Indy 500
David Malsher-Lopez

How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled

Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021

Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
David Malsher-Lopez

Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021 Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021

How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential

How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
Charles Bradley

How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential

How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best

How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
David Malsher-Lopez

How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best

Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?

Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
David Malsher-Lopez

Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up? Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?

Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win

Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win

Plus
Plus
IndyCar
David Malsher-Lopez

Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win

Subscribe