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Shifting gears with Ed Carpenter
Indy Racing League driver Ed Carpenter made a media pit stop in Dayton on Thursday, July 17, as he drove up from last week’s race at Nashville, Tenn., to this weekend’s Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
We know IRL drivers are fearless piloting their rides at 220 mph. But Carpenter took on a different form of brave: Driving four hours with a 9-month-old in the car. Carpenter and his wife, Heather, drove up from Lake Cumberland in Kentucky with their adorable 9-month-old daughter Makenna, did a few interviews then drove another 2 ½ hours north to Mid-Ohio. Makenna, for the record, did great.
So did Ed. Here’s what the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing driver had to say about the IRL and a few other light topics:
Q: Much has been made about driving for Vision Racing, which is co-owned by your step-dad Tony George — who also happens to be the IRL founder and CEO at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — and your mom Laura. Patrick Dempsey is also a co-owner. So I have to ask: What is Patrick Dempsey really like?
A: “He’s busy. We don’t see him quite as much as we used to between his acting and now his own racing career. He’s a great guy, really down to earth.”
Q: The trend now is to jump to NASCAR. Are stock cars in your future?
A: “No. Ever since I started racing quarter-midgets when I was young I always raced open wheel. I never had much desire to race stock cars.”
Q: Is Makenna going to be a racer, too?
A: “She’ll have to make that decision for herself. She’ll have the opportunity to do whatever she wants to do. If she wants to race we’ll probably have a hard time telling her no.” (For the record, Heather was quietly shaking her head no.)
Q: What is the most unusual thing you’ve been asked to autograph?
A: “Any time someone asks you to sign their arm, or skin, it’s weird. I don’t quite understand that.”
Q: What’s the best thing about being a race car driver?
A: “I think drivers are probably the luckiest people in the world, especially if you get to do it full-time. You can’t beat the speed of Indy Cars.”
Q: What’s the worst thing about being a driver?
A: “It’s definitely not an easy road. There are definitely more bad days than good days, especially when you are trying to get to the point you can make it in Indy Car.”
Q: If you could get one autograph, who would it be from?
A: “I’ve got quite a few already. I’m a big football fan so I have most of my favorite players’ autographs. One I don’t have is Johnny Unitas.”
Q: What is the fastest speeding ticket you’ve received?
A: “Ninety-eight mph is the fastest. I got one for 77 on the way to Nashville (last week).”
Q: What is the fastest you’ve driven without getting a ticket?
A: “About 130 mph is the fastest I’ve driven on the road. I do try to keep it safe.”
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