It's Over: No Minced Words for Carpentier

Reed Sorenson made his way to Gillette-Evernham Motorsports earlier this week, transferring across Sprint Cup team lines from Chip Ganassi Racing.

And as he did so, rookie Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier in first year with GEM's No. 10 car could read the writing on the wall.

Simply, the team was placing him on the back burner of its sponsorship search -- meaning he more than likely won't be in a sponsored car if he decides to stick with the GEM team in 2009 because the emphasis will now be on Sorenson.

And when he was asked about Friday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway, he didn't exactly toe the company line:

"They hired Reed Sorenson for next year, so it's over," Carpentier says. "They're working on a fourth team and looking for sponsorship, but you know how that goes."

So Carpentier says he's a free agent. "I'm talking with other teams to see what's out there," the Montreal native says.

I'd classify what was said by Carpentier as another round of those "you can't blame him"-type comments.

He's been vocal for many weeks now about how GEM hasn't let him know about his future while other drivers snap up other rides, and to have the team string him along like that just frankly can't feel good and doesn't come across as professional.

The stats for Carpentier aren't exactly compelling him in to another ride or sponsorship in 2009, but one has to remember that his first stock car experience came just over a year ago in a road course race in Montreal.

Carpentier has a great personality and does have driving talent, and any team that decides to let him refine himself as a stock car driver could be very well-served -- if only to allow Carpentier to rub his talent in GEM's face.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-29-2008 @ 9:38PM

Maveness said...

That's what Ray Evernham did to Scott Riggs last year - strung him along, acting like he was going to be kept, then shoved him to the side at the last moment. Riggs got lucky to find a ride. And this is *after* Evernham called him a "good little guy", a phrase that is so patronizing and jerky.

If Ray would just say "It's a necessary business decision, we have to let you go" then there'd be less hard feelings. By trying to break up with the girl gently, he's causing more hurt feelings. Don't string your date along!

8-29-2008 @ 10:49PM

Carrie said...

The real sad part is they aren't making that much of a step forward by replacing Patrick with Reed. Reed hasn't shown any more talent than Patrick has and Patrick has generally been better but for some rookie mistakes. Patrick has got it all over Reed in personality.

Ray had some potential in Patrick. Now he'll just have a seat warmer until he dumps Reed for the next guy.

8-30-2008 @ 9:41AM

Shelley said...

Originally, I heard they had asked Patrick for 4 weeks to find sponsorship, then they went out and signed Reed. I agree they have shafted Patrick and I also agree that in the end, Patrick has more talent then Reed. It'll be interesting to see if Reed makes all the races next year if he had to qualify, like Patrick did. I certainly hope PC lands another ride because I think NASCAR needs people like him! GOOD LUCK Patrick!

8-30-2008 @ 2:31AM

Don Emerson said...

Damn......just when you think Nascar does stupid things, an owner comes along and makes them look like Albert Einstein. Patrick was by far the better driver, and was a sponsors dream spokesman with his attitude and personality. They should change GEM racing to DIM racing. Works for me.....

8-30-2008 @ 8:56AM

rmhservingwench said...

I had thought that perhaps Gillette would want to keep him as his Canadian connection, but I guess not. Too bad. Although he hasn't had great finishes yet, the man can qualify a car. Perhaps he just needs a little more working knowledge of the COT to help transform a great qualifying car to a great racing car.

8-30-2008 @ 10:06AM

Kim said...

I agree that this situation was poorly handled by the ownership of the team. What a horrible feeling....to find out you are without a job basically by learning it through the media.

I disagree with some of you above though. I think Reed is the better driver of the two. Reed's been in the series longer and knows stock cars a little better. Patrick, while talented was another open wheel driver that was just thrusted straight into Sprint Cup Racing. Open Wheel racing is a different kind of monster. Patrick should have done a couple of years in the Nationwide Series before being pushed up to Sprint Cup. Perhaps the best solution for Carpentier is for him to catch a ride in the Nationwide Series. Learn the car, have steady progression, win some races, then move back up to Sprint Cup. JMHO.

Kim

8-30-2008 @ 3:47PM

ItsNotBrad said...

Yeah right Kim, stick to things you know something about. Reed has had plenty of time to prove himself and has come up way short of the mark. if only women could learn to think with their heads instead of another part of their anatomy.

8-31-2008 @ 6:15PM

Ingrid said...

I question if Kim thinks at all.

6-16-2009 @ 2:06PM

Chelsea said...

Okay, I think it's obvious that Patrick is the better qualifier of the two anyway...and qualifying is going to be key with either the 10 or a 4th car. Sure the results don't do Patrick justice, but he has improved SO MUCH throughout this year. I like Reed and I'm glad he's getting a new start, but I'm a little bitter about the Patrick part of the deal.

8-30-2008 @ 7:07PM

To Nick (number 7)

So I don't think using my head???? I think out of another part of "my anatomy?" Well at least I have the BALLS to put my real name at the bottom of all my posts, you LOSER.

If you want to address me or any other posters directly again, perhaps you would be taken more seriously if you would use your REAL name instead of playing childish games with names like "itsnotbrad". YOU'RE AN IDIOT!

Kim

8-31-2008 @ 6:12PM

If we knew as much as Kim we would be working for Speed. Why must you always refer to a body part or something else crude. Lady or mother you certainly can't be. Patrick is a decent driver and if put in good equipment with a team that has plenty of money he should do just fine.

8-30-2008 @ 9:10PM

Cleo said...

Hopefully, Patrick will be able to find a full=time ride in some organization. The man can qualify! and with time, would be a great stock car driver.

I hope that his contract was longer than a year, and its gonna cost GEM big bucks. Bone head move, Ray and George.

8-30-2008 @ 11:31PM

CJ said...

I have to agree with Kim. I think Patrick Carpentier was a great guy but when it comes down to it, Reed is the better driver. He still has along time ahead of him in Nascar where Patrick is about ten years older than Reed and Reed is a better sell to get sponsorship. Although i think there should've been more organizations out there trying to get Reed because i think he was the most underrated free agent out there, and im not a fan of GEM, i think at the end of the day Evernham is a better option than Ganassi. It's the same story as Yeley. I think Yeley is a nice guy and accomplished great things in USAC, as Patrick did in open wheel, but there are times when a driver change makes the difference and it's shown that guys like Yeley and Patrick have no business in Nascar.

8-31-2008 @ 9:05AM

Patrick doesn't belong in NASCAR?! I think he had made great strides in his racing and given a chance to finish out the year, you'll see the improvement with every race. Patrick has come a long way in a very short time, showing his talent. I just hope he lands a ride with a competitive team. Reed has had years to show his talent and while I agree that Ganassi doesn't have the best equipment, Reed hasn't really done much there.

9-02-2008 @ 2:16AM

Nicolas said...

I believe we have not seen the last from Carpentier. He will find a spot with another team. I guess the sponsors will catch up and he will get a push from fellows drivers. Nascars like the guy, they want him in. The medias like him to as he's a good interview and therefore he's among the drivers whom you actually see and that's everything to the sponsors. The drivers in the serie generally like him (okay you can count Montoya out of that one), because he's behaved like a true gentlemen.

He only lacks really good results and I believe we may see that from him before this year is over. Remember, he missed one races based on speed qualifying. The other he missed were the one were they cancelled qualification because of the rain at the beginning of the season and the Pocono one when he opted to race in Montreal instead. No the guy will found a car to race in next year.