Forsythe
Championship Racing Inc.7231 Georgetown Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Visit their Website !!!
www.forsythe-racing.com
Forsythe
Championship Racing Inc.
7231 Georgetown Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Visit
their Website !!!
www.forsythe-racing.com
Forsythe
Championship Racing announces the departure of Patrick Carpentier
Indianapolis,
Indiana - Wednesday,
November 10, 2004
By:
Peter Davies
Forsythe Racing
“Patrick Carpentier called me last night from Indianapolis to advise me that he had signed a contract with Cheever Racing to drive in the Indy Racing League in 2005” said team owner Jerry Forsythe.
“Patrick has been with the team since 1998 and I’ve enjoyed seeing him develop as a driver over the years to become one of the leading and most competitive drivers in Champ Car, North America’s premier open wheel racing series. He has had successes on every type of race track that this most diverse and demanding Series races on; oval, road and street courses, and Patrick has proved himself to be a genuine championship contender in recent years. He will be especially missed at our highly attended and great events in Canada where he is a popular local hero.”
“I think it’s a shame that Pat has decided to make a move now, and frankly I don’t think this is a good career choice for him personally – but this is his decision. We like and respect Patrick and his family very much indeed, and all of us at the team wish Patrick, Anick and Anais the very best of luck in the future.”
Vice President of Operations Neil Micklewright added, “It’s a pity Patrick felt he had to make such an early decision – we didn’t want him to leave. He’s come a long way during his tenure with the team and we will miss him. We wish him the best of luck and look forward to him returning to Champ Car in the near future.”
Paul Tracy reiterated the comments he made in Mexico City about his team mate and fellow Canadian, “I’ve enjoyed having Pat as a team mate; we’ve worked well together I think, always openly sharing information and battling hard but cleanly at every race. I wish him the best.”
Forsythe Championship Racing Driver Quotes - Mexico City Gran Premio - Sunday 7th November: Race Day
By:
Peter Davies
Forsythe Racing
Paul
Tracy
#1 Indeck Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Paul Tracy started the Mexico City Gran Premio from 6th place and
after an early incident which damaged the race car he clawed his way from 18th
back up to a 10th place finish in a determined fight for championship
points.
“You can’t help being pumped up for this race in Mexico
City … the Mexican fans are incredible; the grandstands were full and the
noise was amazing! I had a good
start but then was spun by Jimmy [Vasser] and we had some damage to the car –
an under vane came off and we lost about 1% of our aerodynamic down force
straight away. Later a spinning car
in front of me caused a contact and whilst my end of race result was not what
I’d hoped for, we did claw our way from 18th after the accidents
back to a 10th place finish with some of those places made up on the
track and some through great pit stops.”
“I’m thankful to have been able to compete this year as
the Champion, and congratulate Sebastien on his
victory here in Mexico – and of course my team mate Patrick Carpentier for his
third place in the season standings – its been a
good clean battle with Pat all year, and I’m pleased to have finished 4th
overall. Through this season I’ve
learned a lot and we’ll come back next season even stronger … and I’d like
to take this opportunity to also thank Ford and Cosworth for outstanding
performance and reliability, and Bridgestone for consistent and high quality
tires.”
Patrick
Carpentier
#7 Indeck Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Patrick Carpentier finished in 6th place and on the lead lap, gaining
sufficient additional championship points to place him a very creditable 3rd
in the Champ Car 2004 World Series standings.
“I’m very happy to have made up places in this last race
of the year and to have finished 3rd in the Championship – that was
my goal today. I was not feeling
too well yesterday and this morning and I wasn’t sure how I would physically
last during the race here in the Mexican heat … but when Paul went backwards
after his early contact that took some of the pressure off me in terms of the
championship. My car was excellent
today, with the Ford Cosworth engine giving me good power and my Bridgestone
tires held on really well all day – I was running in the low ‘89s during the
race – thank you Ford and Bridgestone for a great year.
And thank you Mexico for an incredible welcome and a fantastic event!”
Rodolfo
Lavin
#3 Corona Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Rodolfo
Lavin had a frustrating weekend in Mexico City chasing a balanced set up in time
for the race. Having been 4th
fastest on Saturday’s morning practice, Rodolfo was disappointed to start the
race from 13th – the position in which he finished, but after a
race that saw him make up three places on the track in the early laps and
running faster than his immediate competition for much of the race.
“I made up two places in
the start and a third when Paul [Tracy] had his incident … and we ran in 10th
for a long time; with fast consitent laps and I was chasing Jourdain who was
ahead of me. My first pit stop was
good, but somehow I lost places after the second stop … I’m sure no one
passed me on the track. My race car
was pushing a bit, but overall it was pretty good.
This was disappointing for me in Mexico City.”
“I have had a great first
year with my new team Corona Forsythe Racing and my team mates Paul tracy and
Patrick Carpentier – I’ve learnt a lot from them both and my championship
points have improved from 17 last season to 156 points this year; with my
Vancouver Qualifying (2nd) and my podium at Road America being
highlights of the year. Next year I
expect to be back and competing at an even higher level.
Corona are a great partner and sponsor of the team – both on and off
the race track, and I look forward to representing them and to bringing even
stronger results in 2005.”
SATURDAY: Forsythe Championship Racing Driver Quotes - Mexico City Gran Premio – Saturday 6th November: 2nd Qualifying
Paul
Tracy
#1 Indeck Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Mexico City – Defending 2003 Gran Premio Champion
After the Saturday second qualifying session and a time of 1:27.172 (115.055
mph) in Mexico City, Paul Tracy will start the Gran Premio from 6th
position.
“We were just not able to achieve the same car as we had
last year … we have been struggling to find the grip so far, but I think we
have a good direction now and we should be good for the race tomorrow.”
Patrick
Carpentier
#7 Indeck Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Patrick Carpentier improved his qualifying position from Friday and will start
the race from 8th place on the grid.
Patrick’s Saturday qualifying time was 1:27.338, and average speed of
114.837 mph.
“I’m pretty happy - this Mexico City Gran Premio is a
long and hard race, and so starting 8th is not so bad … there are
good overtaking opportunities on this great track and my car is pretty good, so
I’m confident for the race tomorrow. As
well as a podium finish, I’ll be looking to chase and pass Paul Tracy and to
improve in the championship.”
Rodolfo
Lavin
#3 Corona Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
A
small improvement in overall qualifying position from Friday sees Rodolfo Lavin
starting from 14th position with a Saturday time of 1:27.886 equal to
an average speed of 114.121 mph.
“Practice this morning was very good for me – we were
fourth fastest … but I had an accident at the end of the session and so we had
to use the spare race car for this afternoon’s qualifying.
The spare car is good and I was already quicker by 2 10th of a
second, but then I had a problem with the downshifting into turn 3 and
flat-spotted my tires in a spin so could not get the best possible time after
that. I’m sure the car will be
strong and this is a long race, so we will look for a result at the most
important time tomorrow – in the race!”
FRIDAY: Forsythe Championship Racing Driver Quotes - Mexico City Gran Premio - Friday 5th November: 1st Qualifying
Paul
Tracy
#1 Indeck Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Mexico City – Defending 2003 Gran Premio Champion
Paul Tracy qualified 5th with a lap time of 1:27.971 and an average
speed of 114.010 mph.
“The car was generally balanced, but lacking in grip –
although with Bridgestone’s option tire the grip definitely improved.
The track is a bit bumpier than last year and I lost a bit of time with
my downshift into turn 12 on my quick lap.
And frankly I should have got my quick laps in earlier … we’ll do
better tomorrow.”
Patrick
Carpentier
#7 Indeck Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Patrick Carpentier qualified 11th with a lap time of 1:28.583 at an
average speed of 113.223 mph.
“I just missed getting my best lap today … nothing more
to say really … my engineers did a great job, but I came off at turn 4 on a
hot lap and we had to come in and check over the car.
I’m sure we will have everything together tomorrow, and we’ll be
better placed for the race.”
Rodolfo
Lavin
#3 Corona Forsythe Racing
Lola/Ford
Rodolfo Lavin qualified 16th with a lap
time of 1:29.353 at an average speed of 112.247 mph.
“We made some suspension changes from this morning to cope
with the bumps in turns 12 and 14 and it was better, but I think we maybe did
too much. I know I can make up time
tomorrow on the back side of the track, from turns 9 through 12 … into turn 12
the bump is a big one and you have to get on the breaks exactly as the car
settles … and the car felt loose through the Esses
even though I was quicker there than this morning’s practice.
The track was getting quicker during the session too, so I’m confident
we will be faster tomorrow.”