Patrick Carpentier returns to the Cup Series in Sonoma
Former IndyCar and NASCAR competitor, Patrick Carpentier will be back behind the wheel of a race car this weekend as he will pilot the No. 32 Go FAS Racing Ford Fusion.
Sunday's event at Sonoma Raceway will mark Patrick Carpentier's first Sprint Cup start since Kansas in 2011.
Previously, the 44-year-old Quebec native was a five-time winner in Champ Car competition has 40 career NSCS starts, and two starts at Sonoma where he scored a career-best NSCS finish of 11th after starting 38th.
"I'm very excited to go back to Sonoma! I have not yet tried the new car generation and I'm really looking forward to it,” said Carpentier.
“Last week I spent a lot of time in the driving simulator at the Ford Technical Center, and it really helped. I believe it took a day off me getting acquainted to these cars again. It is amazing how far the technology has come lately. I was a little bit dizzy at the start, but the guys changed the settings of the moving platform and that really helped me. I set come competitive times and things look good for this weekend’s race,” Carpentier told Motorsport.com.
“I do it because I miss racing. I want to have fun in a race car again. Secondly, I want to have a feel for this new Sprint Cup car. I only drove the COT [Car of Tomorrow] previously, and I want to feel how these new cars handle”, he said.
“My goal going into Sonoma is to focus on the task I need to do, and do my part of it to the best of my capabilities, Carpentier added.
“I want to score some points for the team. Let’s say a top 20 or a top 25 would be a great achievement. The guys are working really hard on that car. I have trained physically for two months in preparation for this event and I'm very appreciative and thankful that Archie St.Hilaire and everyone at Go Fas Racing along with Can-Am, BRP, and Kappa has given me the chance to drive the No. 32 Ford Fusion.”
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