Carpentier expects qualifying struggle

The Gillett Evernham driver tested at Kentucky Speedway before joining the Nextel Cup regulars at Atlanta Motor Speedway this week, where he had the chance to measure himself up against the opposition for the first time.

He says after testing this week, he now knows how difficult it will be for him to be able to make the field at Phoenix and Homestead, as his No. 10 car is currently outside the top-35 in the owner points, who get a spot on the grid guaranteed every weekend.

"As you sit in the car and drive it around the track, you have no idea how difficult this is and how much time you need in the car to get adjusted to it," Carpentier said. "So now it's going to be very difficult for me going to Phoenix. We'll have to qualify the car and now I know what I'm going to be up against.

"I mean, we did a test in Kentucky and it went well and I thought it might not be too bad but coming to the track here it's a whole different animal than every race weekend. For me right now, I'm doing my fast lap in the fourth or fifth lap. But to do it on the first and second lap is a whole different story again."

In August this year, Carpentier made the field for his Nextel Cup debut at Watkins Glen despite qualifying being rained out. His No. 10 car was the best ranked in the owner points of those who had the most qualifying attempts in the season, despite being outside the top-35.

Carpentier's car is currently 37th in the owner standings, more than 200 points off from the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing car currently driven by Bill Elliott.