INDIANAPOLIS — After a two-and-a-half hour delay due to rain, the first day of qualifying started at 1:30pm. I had a chance to visit the Media Center, enjoy a meal—compliments of the Speedway— and get my bearings on where I will be on race-day. Starting out in the pits, the first to qualify was out, but soon so was I due to the photographers crowding my space. I decided to go hang out at the Economaki Press Conference room for the rest of the afternoon—best decision I’d made. Here I could ask questions and record some of the most interesting and insightful information of the day through comments from the drivers. I will post some of my favorites this week starting today with Ed Carpenter. He is a race team owner, who took the pole Saturday with the average speed of 228.762. His stepfather is Tony George, who founded the Indy Racing League. During the press conference, Carpenter said that he is not interested in moving from Indy cars to Formula One anytime in the future. “I love racing Indy cars,” he says. “Racing Formula One is not a realistic subject.” This Indianapolis native, 32 years of age, has an impressive background, including the 2012 victory at California Speedway as both owner and driver for Ed Carpenter Racing. His earnings to date, $2,491,260. In his comment regarding auto racing, he said, “It’s a young man’s sport.” I would agree it is a sport for younger-aged drivers for endurance reasons, but not for auto racing itself. It is the “big boys” calling the shots, both from team owners like Roger Penske and Michael Andretti, looking very strong at this year’s race. Don’t forget the legends of racing, Rick Mears, A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford, Parnelli Jones, and The Unsers who “know” what it takes to win the Indy 500. And the many sports writers, broadcasters and photographers, like Richard Darlington, who has been shooting for AP 35 years! And what about the team sponsors? Golf legend Fuzzy Zoeller is Ed Carpenter’s primary car sponsor for this year’s 500. And what about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway staff, including the Chairman and CEO, Mari Hulman George? It’s not just “a young man’s sport.” It is the greatest spectacle in racing due to hundreds of individuals in the business of motor sports who may not be as young as you, Ed! But overall, I think Ed Carpenter has a good chance to be the next Indy 500 champion. He is a class act with some humble beginnings, racing experience, and he is family centered.
— Glee Renick-May
