Carpentier commits to NASCAR

In the week that Juan Pablo Montoya dramatically quit Formula One for stock cars, Carpentier told a news conference at the New Hampshire NASCAR event that he was already negotiating with Busch Series teams about a testing programme.

The Canadian was left without a drive for 2006 after Cheever Racing had to reduce their IRL programme. Carpentier was linked with several Champ Car opportunities, but so far his only race starts of the season have come in A1 Grand Prix.

Now the 34-year-old says that his open wheel racing days are probably over.

"For me, it's a new beginning," Carpentier said. "I always loved ovals. I'm more a racer than a qualifier and I think NASCAR is what I'm going to like. Long races, and this type of close racing is very exciting.

"I think oval racing is as difficult (as road racing), just a different art. I think I'm going to have to relearn a lot of stuff. Even the way we debrief is very different."

Carpentier is close to finalising a testing deal with a Busch team, and plans to make his stock car racing debut in the lower leagues before the end of the season.

"We have to test and see how the tests go," he said. "I'm going to do a lot of local stuff in Canada, and some ARCA and Grand National series races, and maybe some Busch races. But this year mainly is going to be testing."

NASCAR is keen to break into the Canadian market, and is looking to add a Busch Series race at Montreal - where Carpentier has a huge following - to its 2007 schedule. The Canadian's long-time backers Mecachrome are also eager to become NASCAR technology suppliers, and are supporting his stock car move.

Carpentier does not expect to race in NASCAR's premier division until at least 2008, whereas his former Champ Car rival Montoya is jumping straight into parallel Nextel Cup and Busch Series programmes.

"If he's in Busch next year then we'll probably have a chance to race him," said Carpentier. "But for sure we're not going Nextel next year."