ECR plays timing right Saturday in Brazil qualifying, Carpenter will start 14th

SAO PAULO, Brazil (May 4, 2013) – Ed Carpenter Racing’s brain trust played it smart Saturday in qualifications in the streets of Sao Paulo and it paid off.

ECR management leaders general manager Derrick Walker, team manager Tim Broyles and lead engineer Matt Barnes decided to send out team owner/driver Ed Carpenter at the beginning of the opening 10-minute time trial session Saturday afternoon at the 2.6-mile, 11-turn street circuit. The pit box directors felt it was better to get a timed lap early and avoid any type of red flag stoppage in the short qualifying round. And the plan worked.

Carpenter took the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet to the second position at the start of the second qualifying group. At the six-minute mark, the red flag flew for the stalled machine of James Jakes and the green never reappeared. Some of the favorites, including three-time race winner Will Power, missed out in getting a solid lap and will start back in the 25-driver field.

The Butler University grad finished the session in seventh, just missing a top-six position and advancing to the next qualifying round. With the seventh spot in the split session, Carpenter will start 14th Sunday in the Sao Paulo Indy 300, the fourth stop in the 19-race IZOD IndyCar Series.

It is Carpenter’s best qualifying run of the 2013 IndyCar Series. Ed will start next to Oriol Servia in the 75-lap feature Sunday.

“Well, that was a pretty weird qualifying session today,” said Carpenter. “A crash halted the first group in the first round and a blown engine stops the second group. We always try to go out early and collect a lap or two in case something brings out the red flag. And that is what happened today. We just missed advancing to the next group in seventh, but our Fuzzy’s Chevy is working better with each run. The weather should be okay for the race this time. A lot of things can happen Sunday. We’ll be ready to go when they drop the green flag.”

Defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay captured the pole position Saturday followed by E.J. Viso, Dario Franchitti, local favorite Tony Kanaan and James Hinchcliffe.

The IZOD IndyCar Series’ only race outside of North America will be televised on NBC Sports Network in the U.S. starting at 11 a.m. EDT.

ECR