News

What's it like to be behind the wheel in a 24-hour endurance race?

Patrick Carpentier knows. He'll be driving in the 24 Hours of Daytona race next weekend, hoping to return victorious after taking a break from racing last year.

Mr. Carpentier generously offered to give us a rare glimpse into the mind of a professsional race car driver. He joined us online Monday to answer questions from readers. Your questions and Mr. Carpentier's replies appear at the bottom of the page.

Patrick Carpentier began racing go-karts more than 20 years ago, winning the 1985 Canadian 4-stroke karting championship before moving to cars in various Formula Ford series. Success followed him up the ladder in a number of open wheel development series which culminated in a record-breaking 1996 Toyota Atlantic season where he annihilated the competition, taking the championship on nine victories and eight poles in 12 races and leading the series in almost every major driver category.

His success led to a drive with Bettenhausen Motorsports in CART (now Champ Car) the next season, where he took the series Rookie of the Year Award. He joined the Players/Forsythe Team the next season and remained there until he left the series at the end of the 2004 season. Along the way, he took his first of five career victories in 2001 at Michigan Speedway and finished third in the championship on two occasions.

After eight successful years in the Champ Car, Mr. Carpentier signed with Team Cheever in the rival Indy Racing League. A successful speed skater before racing consumed his life, Mr. Carpentier always loved racing on oval tracks. He delivered two podium finishes for Team Cheever despite using the less competitive Toyota engine. He finished the year in the top 10 in points.

But it wasn't enough to keep him around with the team when its sponsor Red Bull decided to leave the series. Mr. Carpentier bought a farm near Montreal and took most of 2006 off to recharge his batteries. While he spent most of the year driving a tractor, Mr. Carpentier also dabbled in stock car and sports car racing, before signing a contract with SAMAX Motorsport to contest the 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series in the Daytona Prototype class.

He returns to full-time racing this weekend in the 24-Hours of Daytona, which is the first race on the Rolex schedule. Last year, Mr. Carpentier and teammates Christian Fittipaldi and Eddie Cheever, Jr. challenged for a podium and possible win at Daytona before a mechanical failure two hours from the finish ruined their run. They ended the race 17th.

Mr. Carpentier is 35 and hails from LaSalle, Que.

--Jeff Pappone

Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question/comment. Comments/questions may be edited for length or clarity. We will not publish questions/comments that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions/comments that include vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym.

Rebecca Dube, globeandmail.com: Hi Patrick, and thanks for joining us online today to answer questions from readers. I'm wondering if you could tell us a bit about how you're preparing for next weekend's big race? Do you have a special training routine, special things you eat, anything like that?

Patrick Carpentier: Preparation is mostly done for my physical training. Now it is time to relax and enjoy the week as it goes on. I am flying to Daytona tomorrow and will start talking with the team about the coming weekend. I keep eating what I always do and there is not much change in that regard. Until the actual race that is. We then have to eat little at a time so we don't have stomach problems during the 24 hours.

Jo Caron from Montreal writes: Do you have a NASCAR nickname like Richard Petty (The King) or Dale Earnhardt (The Intimidator)?

Patrick Carpentier: Between you and me, I would not say it yet. I will wait to see where we end up with the NASCAR stuff. Hopefully we get a break soon and get to use that nickname :)

Patrick Murray from Ottawa writes: What's your view on Michael Schumacher's legacy and does F1 have a future in North America? Good luck at Daytona

Patrick Carpentier: I think Michael has accomplished more then anybody in Formula One. He is a fierce competitor and a warrior on and off the track. It did not help his image at the time but that's what it takes to win races over there. That is why I have all the respect for him as a driver. F1 has always been strong in Canada, even if Jacques was there or not it has always been good. As for the US, I am not sure. They seem to have good and bad years … we'll have to see what happens in the near future.

Simon Beck from Toronto writes: Through the years, you've changed racing car class a lot … do you have a particular favourite format? And do you regret not having had the chance to drive Formula One?

Patrick Carpentier: Lately I have changed a couple of times but I was in Champ Car for 9 years … I think it's a pretty long time. Then went to IRL and now to Daytona prototypes. Tried a CASCAR race at Cayuga in between. I really like the Daytona prototypes at this time. They are fun to drive and you can slide them a little, not too much but a little slide ain't bad. Honestly, I enjoyed all of them but now I am at a stage where I like Daytona car and the environment of the series. For the last one; no I don't regret not going to Formula One, because America brought me a lot in my life as a racer and also as a resident or now as a citizen. And I enjoy the life we have here in North America. Would have liked to try one of these machines but….

Peter Evans from Toronto writes: Mr. Carpentier, you were a member of the talented group of Canadian drivers to emerge in the late 1990s and early 2000s with much fanfare in open-wheel racing circuits. In general, how do you think the landscape for motorsports in Canada has changed during your career -- both in terms of fan support and the calibre of new drivers coming up through the ranks? In general, do you think the Canadian motorsport world is in better or worse shape than it was when you were starting out? Thank you very much for your time.

Patrick Carpentier: That is a good question. Unfortunately the outlook for the Canadian drivers is not that great really. I had the opportunity to come up at the same time Players decided to open the marketing machine to its maximum allowed. They created new competitive teams in most classes and went ahead with the Driver Development Progran. We mostly all went through it at one time or another. It brought the level of awareness for open wheel racing to a level never experienced before. Unfortunately they had to stop and so did the program. Now most of the Canadian series are dead or in a bad shape, and it is more unorganized for the newcomers to come through the ranks and make it to the top. Especially now with the split between Champ Car and IRL, it is even more difficult.… You better have brass in pocket if you want the fast road to the top.

Jeff Pappone writes: How well do you think guys like Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve will fit into the NASCAR scene? We saw JPM get put into the wall by another driver already in his Nextel Cup debut. Will they be outsiders with a big bullseye on their car or will they be accepted by the good ol' boys? Since you have expressed interest in getting into the stock car series, is it a concern?

Patrick Carpentier: As for Jacques, I don't think anything is happening with NASCAR at this time. For Juan Pablo M. he did pretty well in ARCA, was a little more difficult in BUSH and finally got hit by reality "WALL" with the big boys. As most open wheel racers do when they first get to NEXTEL Cup series. I don't know if JPB will be sponsored by Target in 2007 but he will sure be one to the other drivers. He is extremely talented and I think he will succeed but it will take some time and some damage unfortunately. As for me, we are still trying to get into it but nothing so far.

Simon Beck from Toronto writes: What do you think about the growing number of women racing with the men? Do they merit the chance, or is it just a markleting gimmick?

Patrick Carpentier: It definitely brought a lot of attention to racing and also from different spectators. Which is great for the sport. They definitely do merit the chance, it doesn't matter if it's a guy or a girl -- if they have the talent, go for it. Isn't everything a marketing gimmick now a days? Ask Paris Hilton

Peter S from Toronto Canada writes: Hi Patrick. It's great to hear you'll be back behind the wheel again. ChampCar hasn't been the same since you left so I have to ask if you would consider returning to open wheel racing, or are you more interested in pursuing Nascar?

Patrick Carpentier: First of all thank you very much. I definitely want to pursue more NASCAR and Prototypes style racing. I really enjoyed my years at Champ car and IRL but is a time for me to move to a different style of racing. I would only consider returning to open wheel racing with a good proven team. But sincerely, I think I will stick to what I have now with CITGO and SAMAX racing for the 2007 Season.

Rebecca Dube, globeandmail.com: Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and thanks to Mr. Carpentier for joining us online today. You can read more about Mr. Carpentier's adventures this season in this week's Globe Auto section. That's all the time we have for now. Patrick, any closing thoughts?

Patrick Carpentier: Thanks guys. It's been great chatting with you today. You will be able to follow my whole season 2007 on and off the track, you just have to go to www.paddocktalk.com and read my reality column. Thanks to The Globe and Mail for doing this and we'll see you at the races in 2007. I will be racing the full season in Rolex Prototype Series. We are starting this coming week-end with the 24 hours of Daytona.