2009 IRL Team Reports: Vision Racing

IRL Team reports for the 2009 IRL season

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Post by mlittle » Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:24 pm

WEEPERS CANCEL QUALIFYING; VISION RACING'S CARPENTER TO START 13th AT IOWA

NEWTON, Iowa (June 20, 2009)- On-track weepers producing surface moisture at Iowa Speedway this afternoon, forced the starting grid for Sunday's Iowa Corn Indy 250 to be set by the IndyCar Series entrant point standings. Thus, Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter will start 13th in the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine. It is the second consecutive year that the starting grid has been set by the point standings at Iowa.

Carpenter's best lap in practice today came in at 179.620 mph. He completed 110 laps overall and was 15th fastest among 20 total cars.

Carpenter holds the team's best starting position at Iowa when he took the green flag in fifth in 2007. After a rough race, he persevered that year to finish in the sixth position. Last year Carpenter started in ninth and was running in eighth when a mechanical failure on lap 39 crashed him out of the race and left him in the 23rd spot.

Most recently, making his eighth IndyCar Series start at Texas, Carpenter drove from the tenth spot to the head of the field as he was credited leading lap 59, and eventually to a ninth place finish. It was Carpenter's fourth career-leader lap in the IndyCar Series and his third ninth place finish at Texas.

Overall, Vision Racing returns to Iowa Speedway for the third time. The team's best finish at Iowa came last season when A.J. Foyt IV finished fifth.

The Vision Racing Wellness Tour, supported by team sponsor Lilly USA, will make an important pit stop for a second consecutive year at Iowa Speedway providing racing fans with free diabetes screenings with A1c testing and risk factor assessment, along with cholesterol and blood pressure testing. The Wellness Tour mobile unit (bus) will be located behind the main grandstands and will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, race day at the Iowa Speedway.

Saturday's 250 lap/218.75 mile Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway will air live on Sunday, June 21 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC as well as IMS Radio Network, XM IndyCar Series Racing Channel 145, XM Sports Nation Channel 144 and on the web at www.IndyCar.com.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"I'm pretty confident we would have qualified better than the points will allow us to start Sunday's race so it's disappointing. There's not much we can do about it. If the track is wet, then the track is wet and there's not much we can do. So we'll approach the race the same way that we would have had we been able to qualify, but you still would always like a chance to go out and qualify a gain a better position. It's going to be tough out there tomorrow so we'll need to take care of our equipment and put ourselves in a position to advance in the race whenever possible."
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:24 pm

CARPENTER EARNS TOP-TEN FINISH AT IOWA

NEWTON, Iowa (June 21, 2009) - Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter finished tenth at Iowa Speedway Sunday afternoon in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 driving the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine.

After on-track weepers producing surface moisture at Iowa Speedway canceled qualifying on Saturday, the starting grid for today's race was set by the IndyCar Series entrant point standings. Thus, Carpenter started from the 13th position and drove as high as tenth which is where he held on through the attrition and on-track incidents to take the checkered flag.

Working through changes to the car and driving a clean race allowed Carpenter to record his second-consecutive tenth place finish in the last two IndyCar Series races and his fourth top-ten finish this season. As a result, Carpenter moved up from 14th to 12th in the championship point standings with 126 points (115 points behind the leader).

In three starts at Iowa, Carpenter has two top-ten finishes and a top-five start now on his resume.

From the heart of the mid-west, Carpenter and the team head to yet another short-track oval in Richmond International Raceway next weekend with a little momentum on their side. Carpenter also has two top-ten finishes at the .75 of a mile track.

Watch the IndyCar Series' SunTrust Indy Challenge live from the Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, June 27th. Race coverage on VERSUS begins 8 p.m. (ET).

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"The bumps were a factor. The car was loose over those bumps the whole race and I had understeer in turn 3 and 4 especially in traffic. We were pretty limited on what we could do to take understeer out of the car because I was afraid of what that it would do over the bumps. It's disappointing because this is a great race track and I'd really like to see them fix that bump. I know they tried but we'd like to see them try something different. We're happy to be coming back the next two years so I think it would be in all of our best interests if they tuned it a bit to open it up and make it a more exciting race. It's a top-ten but not one we can be proud of since we didn't really feel like we beat anybody. We just rode around and didn't crash like a lot of others."
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Post by mlittle » Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:51 am

Vision Gets Ready for Richmond

* TAKING THE VISION TO RICHMOND: Vision Racing returns to Richmond International Raceway for the fifth time. The team's best finish at Richmond came in 2006 and 2007 when Tomas Scheckter finished in the seventh spot. Carpenter also has two top-ten finishes at the track.

* WELLNESS TOUR IN RICHMOND- The Vision Racing Wellness Tour, supported by team sponsor Lilly USA, will make an important pit stop for a second consecutive year at Richmond International Raceway providing racing fans with FREE diabetes screenings with A1c testing and risk factor assessment, along with cholesterol and blood pressure testing. The Wellness Tour mobile unit (bus) will be located behind the main grandstands and will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, race day at the Richmond International Raceway.

* HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: After forming and joining the Indy Racing League in 2005, Vision Racing is celebrating its fifth season of competition in 2009. Since the team embarked upon IndyCar Series competition, eight drivers have piloted five (Nos. 2, 20, 21, 22, 90) different team entries. Those drivers have combined for an additional 45 top-10 finishes, plus 10 top-five finishes, three more podium finishes and 42 laps led. Over the previous four years the quest for the team's first victory has been top priority and Vision Racing is confident that year five will be the season where that it happens. The team's best ever finish occurred in the 2009 season opener as Ryan Hunter-Reay drove from 14th to finish second in the race. That podium finish also put Vision second in the championship point standings which was also its' the highest-ever ranking. The SunTrust Indy Challenge will be the team's 74th IndyCar Series event since their first season in 2005.

* ON OVALS AND SUPERSPEEDWAYS: The team's best finish on an oval is third scored by Tomas Scheckter at The Milwaukee Mile in 2006 and again in 2007 by A.J. Foyt IV at Kentucky Speedway. However, the team's overall best finish came on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. in the 2009 season-opener when Ryan Hunter-Reay finished in the second position. In the team's most recent oval affair, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway, Carpenter started 13th, and finished tenth giving him his second consecutive top-ten oval finish and fourth top-ten oval finish for the season. The best oval finish this season was recorded by Carpenter in the 2009 Indianapolis 500 when he drove from 17th to finish eighth.

* FIND US ONLINE, ANYTIME: The 2009 season for Vision Racing includes the great social media experiment. Vision Racing has established itself in the realm of online social media and networking via accounts at Twitter.com, Facebook.com and YouTube.com this season; allowing fans, friends, followers and even members of the media the opportunity to closely follow and interact with the five-year IndyCar Series participant. In addition, RACERSITES.com is working on a redesign of VisionRacing.com which is set to launch in June 2009.

* ON LOAN: Considered a win-win situation for all involved, Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will be taking over piloting duties of A.J. Foyt's ABC Supply entry for the remainder of the 2009 IndyCar season in a deal that began at Iowa. Hunter-Reay, who drove the No. 21 Vision Honda Dallara to a second place podium finish in the 2009 season opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida, and is currently 11th in the IndyCar Series Championship driver points standings, will have his driving services transferred to A.J. Foyt Racing as a temporary replacement for the injured Vitor Meira.

* 2009 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: This season's highlight to date came in the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. when Ryan Hunter-Reay started 14th and drove all the way to finish in second place. Since then, Carpenter has added four top-ten finishes at Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa.

* AS SEEN ON TV: Patrick Dempsey joined Vision Racing prior to the 2006 season, taking on a new role that has been making hearts race in a literal way as a team co-owner. Known for his scene-stealing turns in such '80s nostalgia classics such as Can't Buy Me Love and Loverboy, Patrick Dempsey continues to please America with his explosive charisma and versatile talent. Dempsey is the star of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey's no stranger to the racetrack when he's not in front of the camera. A true racer at heart, he's currently driving professionally in Grand American Cup class sports car racing with Dempsey Racing, formerly Hypersport. He raced a Ferrari F430 GT with Team Seattle in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and also competed in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

* A TEAM WITH A VISION: Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George, their daughter Lauren George and actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition and second year of Firestone Indy Lights racing. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and Indy car racing.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone:

* AT RICHMOND: Carpenter has five previous attempts at Richmond International Raceway. In his debut at the track driving for Cheever Racing in 2004, he finished in the 16th spot due to an accident. In 2005 he finished 12th and in 2006 Carpenter recorded his best finish at Richmond when he started 13th and finished eighth. In 2007 Carpenter started 15th and finished 10th and last year he finished just outside of the top-ten and in the 11th position.

* BABY ON BOARD: Just as planned, Carpenter and wife Heather (Pettigrew) welcomed their second child into the world on June 1st as the 8 lb. 1 oz., 20 inch long Ryder Carpenter arrived on his due date. Big sister, Makenna was born in October 2007, while the couple was married November 8, 2005 on the Island of St. Thomas.

* TWEET, TWEET: With the birth of his second child, son Ryder, Carpenter decided it would be the perfect time to make his debut on Twitter.com as well; joining Vision Racing's twitter efforts. You can view Carpenter's Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20 and follow the team at www.twitter.com/visionracing.

* MOST RECENTLY: Making his third IndyCar Series start at Iowa, Carpenter drove the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone from the 13th spot to tenth where he held on to record his second-consecutive tenth place finish this season and fourth top-ten finish overall. He was able to move two spots in the championship point standings again this week, going from 14th up to 12th in the standings. He now has 126 points (115 points behind leader).

* 2009 SEASON: This is the sixth full season in IndyCar Series competition for Carpenter and the seventh season that he has participated in overall. Carpenter is looking to build off top-ten finishes earned on the ovals of Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa. The SunTrust Indy Challenge will be Carpenter's eighth event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season and sixth consecutive oval.

* LEADER LAPS: In his fifth IndyCar Series start in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, Carpenter recorded his first laps led in an IndyCar. He led the field for three laps under caution and finished an Indianapolis 500 career-best, fifth. His most recent leader lap came this season at Texas Motor Speedway when Carpenter was credited for leading one lap. He has a total of four (4) career-leader laps.

* BACK WITH MENARDS: The No. 20 Vision Racing machine again features the most recognizable car on track as it carries the day-glow yellow color of Menards for the second consecutive season. Menards returned as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, driven by Ed Carpenter. The Menards sponsorship also continues a long-lasting relationship between the home store retailer with Carpenter. The 28-year-old driver carried the Menards livery in 2002, with Sinden Racing in Firestone Indy Lights competition and well before that his days of dirt track racing behind the wheel of quarter midgets.

* NEW VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT: Carpenter still has the same view from the cockpit that he's always had, but fans of the driver will notice a different look coming from his cockpit this season as his helmet is carrying the distinct colors and logos of the premium jean and clothing retailer, William Rast, for the 2009 season.

* ED "CARPENTER": Carpenter and his arsenal of power tools have been busy again this past off-season as he has been knee deep in a house flipping project with a long time friend as well as occupied with rehab projects around his own home. Of course, Menards has been an essential part of Carpenter's home repair ventures. Prior to his current real estate investment, Carpenter and his "do-it-yourself" mentality crafted his home repair skills with his first home and family heirloom. The home is located in Speedway, Ind. was purchased as new in 1955 by stepfather Tony George's parents, Elmer and Mari George. Tony grew up in the home as a boy and for a time, drivers A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey lived in the basement.

* DOUBLE DUTY: Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend.

* INAUGURAL BRICKYARD WINNER: Carpenter won the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 in 2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making him an inaugural winner at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Ray Haroun (Indianapolis 500), Jeff Gordon (Brickyard 400), and Michael Schumacher (United States Grand Prix).

* BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: Carpenter graduated from 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifying Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., with a marketing degree in May 2003.

* DID YOU KNOW? Carpenter enjoys water skiing, snowboarding, hunting and cycling. His racing heroes include Al Unser Jr., A.J. Foyt, and Lance Armstrong and he has two dogs; a Rottweiler named Bentley and a Chihuahua named Rosco.

* ED AT-A-GLANCE: Carpenter is participating in his sixth season in the IndyCar Series, and his fifth with his second team in Vision Racing. The 28-year-old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an IRL Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter, who has been with the team since it's inception in 2005, is determined to make his sixth season overall, the best for both he and the team. Last year Carpenter recorded seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives and his first leader laps.

About the SunTrust Indy Challenge: The 300 lap/ 225 mile SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway will air live on Saturday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET on VERSUS, as well as IMS Radio Network, XM IndyCar Series Racing Channel 145, XM Sports Nation Channel 144 and on the web at www.IndyCar.com.
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Post by mlittle » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:37 am

CARPENTER TO START 14th AT RICHMOND

Richmond, Virginia (June 26, 2009) -Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter will start 14th in the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine for the SunTrust Indy Challenge on Saturday at Richmond International Raceway. Carpenter's four lap qualifying average came in at 163.824 mph.

Carpenter has five previous attempts at Richmond International Raceway. In his debut at the track driving for Cheever Racing in 2004, he finished in the 16th spot due to an accident. In 2005 he finished 12th and in 2006 Carpenter recorded his best finish at Richmond when he started 13th and finished eighth. In 2007 Carpenter started 15th and finished 10th and last year he finished just outside of the top-ten, in the 11th position.

Most recently, making his third IndyCar Series start at Iowa, Carpenter drove the No. 20 Menards car from the 13th spot to tenth where he held on to record his second-consecutive tenth place finish this season and fourth top-ten finish overall.

Last weekend, Carpenter was also able to move two spots in the IndyCar Series championship point standings, going from 14th up to 12th in the standings. He now has 126 points (115 points behind leader).

Overall, Vision Racing returns to Richmond International Raceway for the fifth time. The team's best finish at Richmond came in 2006 and 2007 when Tomas Scheckter finished in the seventh spot. Carpenter also has two top-ten finishes at the track.

The Vision Racing Wellness Tour, supported by team sponsor Lilly USA, will make an important pit stop for a second consecutive year at Richmond International Raceway providing racing fans with FREE diabetes screenings; complete with A1c testing and risk factor assessment, along with cholesterol and blood pressure testing. The Wellness Tour mobile unit (bus) will be located behind the main grandstands and will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, race day at the Richmond International Raceway.

On Saturday June 27th, race day at Richmond International Raceway, Vision Racing will also be launching their new and improved team website, www.visionracing.com at 3 pm ET.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"We made big changes to the No. 20 Menards car between practice and qualifying. We came here with something way different than we ran here last year thinking it would be better. It didn't really work out that way so between practice and qualifying we changed everything. Definitely happy that we improved from practice and moved up quite a bit. It's hard to go qualify when you are running a completely different set up than what you ran in practice but the guys did a good job in getting the car better for me. We have a few cars between us and the front and that will be a challenge here but we're up for it."
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:08 am

CARPENTER DRIVES TO 13th PLACE FINISH AT RICHMOND

RICHMOND, Virginia (June 27, 2009) - Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter finished 13th tonight at Richmond International Raceway in the SunTrust Indy Challenge driving the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine.

Carpenter started from the 14th position and ran as high as eighth in the race, but was caught out twice by yellow flags immediately after making his second and third pit stops. Those cautions caused by on-track accidents impeded any progress and advancement Carpenter could have made via pit stop cycles and fuel saving strategies.

The 13th place finish this evening dropped Carpenter one point in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 13th position with 143 points (136 points behind the leaders).

This stretch of six consecutive oval races that saw Carpenter score four top-ten finishes has concluded with Richmond and now the IndyCar Series will transition to the first of three consecutive road and street course events starting with next weekend's affair at Watkins Glen International. Carpenter's best finish at Watkins Glen came in 2006 when he finished sixth. It is also the team's best finish at the 3.37-mile road course.

Watch the IndyCar Series in action next weekend for the fifth annual Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen. The race broadcast will air live from the Watkins Glen International on Sunday, July 5th at 1 p.m. (ET) on ABC.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"It was a frustrating race. You could run a decent pace on your own but this was like no Richmond race I have ever run before. The No. 20 Menards car was really affected by dirty air and loss of grip in traffic. We didn't have much luck with cautions coming out of the pits either. Finishing in 13th place is nothing to be happy with, but we made it through in one piece when others didn't."
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:09 am

VISION RACING LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE @RACERSITES.COM ASSISTS TEAM IN CREATING VISIONRACING.COM VERSION 2.0

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (June 27, 2009) - Vision Racing is pleased to announce the launch of the newly redesigned VisionRacing.com in conjunction with premier motorsports website provider, RACERSITES.COM.

The long-overdue upgrade includes the standard features such as team news and information, driver and crew profiles, race results, statistics, sponsor profiles and much more. Along with an attractive new design and layout, the new site will host all of the traditional offerings expected from a premier auto racing site. However, www.VisionRacing.com version 2.0 aspires to take visitors beyond the traditional motorsports website experience and invites them into Vision Racing's world through its special "For the Fans" satellite site and social media integration.

Fans will no doubt enjoy the content featured on the primary site, but the "For the Fans" section, which mirrors the primary site and speaks specifically to Vision Racing fans, Indy Racing League enthusiasts and even the non-racing fan. "For the Fans" offers an insider look at the team through blogs, fan photos, fan comments, a fan Q&A, videos, team Twitter updates, insider information with alternative features and other exclusive content.

Furthermore, the site will serve as a central hub and place of integration for the team's social media efforts. At the start of the 2009 IndyCar Series season, Vision Racing was one of the first race teams to establish itself in the realm of online social media and networking via accounts at Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. As a result, fans, friends, followers and even members of the media have had the opportunity to closely follow and interact directly with the five-year IndyCar Series participant. The newest launch of VisionRacing.com only enhances these efforts.

This combination of online tactics allows Vision Racing to add a 'human touch' to the team. In other words, the fans will have the ability to get to know more of the team's personality by literally getting to know some of the personnel.

Furthermore, both VisionRacing.com version 2.0 and the additional social networking sites provide the team with the ability to update and communicate directly with fans; both trackside and in a real time capacity no matter where they are in the world. And unlike traditional public relations, the communication via these outlets doesn't have to be one-sided in nature. The end user can now talk back, thus creating a dialogue, which also has the potential to include many others. Additionally, the team now has the ability to keep the lines of communication open for more than just race weekends. Now the team can keep the interaction going essentially all year long.

Moreover, this online strategy provides a personal voice to the team, drivers and crew, outside the constraints of the "business of racing" and the results on track. The end goal is to bridge the gap between the team and the fans. Since a visit to the team's garage or pits isn't readily available for all fans, this is a means to get around such hurdles. Not to mention, these online opportunities are also just plain fun; allowing team members to be a part of a bigger community and share their view of the world with others.

Thus, fans, media, friends and complete strangers are encouraged to not just visit the new VisionRacing.com, but come back frequently to see what's new, what's old and what's just plain fun.

Look for some additions throughout the entire site in the next few weeks. Some of those changes will include enhancements to the team history and stats pages, more team bios, additional photography, as well as special features to the "For the Fans" site. The special "fan" features will include alternate team bios, "Recipes of the Weekend" from IRL Chef, Eddie Wilson, and a "Dog Days of Summer" section featuring team members' dogs.

Stay tuned, stop back by often, and of course, questions and feedback are encouraged!
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Post by mlittle » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:42 am

* TAKING THE VISION TO WATKINS GLEN: Vision Racing returns to Watkins Glen International for the fifth time. The team's best finish at Watkins Glen came in 2006 when Ed Carpenter took sixth place. That same year Tomas Scheckter also finished in the tenth spot.

* BIRDS-EYE VIEW: Fans watching the Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen on Sunday's ABC TV coverage beginning at 1 p.m. (ET), will get the opportunity to see the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing machine from a birds-eye view. The day-glow Dallara will carry an in-car camera this weekend giving viewers a unique perspective as Carpenter pilots the car around the 3.37-mile natural terrain road course.

* HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: After forming and joining the Indy Racing League in 2005, Vision Racing is celebrating its fifth season of competition in 2009. Since the team embarked upon IndyCar Series competition, eight drivers have piloted five (Nos. 2, 20, 21, 22, 90) different team entries. Those drivers have combined for an additional 45 top-10 finishes, plus 10 top-five finishes, three more podium finishes and 42 laps led. Over the previous four years the quest for the team's first victory has been top priority and Vision Racing is confident that year five will be the season where that it happens. The team's best ever finish occurred in the 2009 season opener as Ryan Hunter-Reay drove from 14th to finish second in the race. That podium finish also put Vision second in the championship point standings which was also its' the highest-ever ranking. The Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen will be the team's 75th IndyCar Series event since their first season in 2005.

* ON ROAD/STREET COURSES: The team's best finishes on a road or street course is second, recently scored in the 2009 season-opener at St. Petersburg by Ryan Hunter-Reay in his debut with the team. It's is also the team's highest finish overall. Prior to Hunter-Reay's podium finish, the previous best road and street course drives include a fourth place finish scored by Paul Tracy in 2008 at Edmonton, and a pair of sixth place drives; one captured by Tomas Scheckter on the streets of St. Petersburg in 2007 and the other by Ed Carpenter in 2006 at Watkins Glen International

* FIND US ONLINE, ANYTIME: Just last weekend, the team launched the newly remodeled www.VisionRacing.com. The site not only features great design and features, but also boasts its own fan site with additional content just for fans. The site is also the hub of the team's social media experiment for the 2009 season. Vision Racing has established itself in the realm of online social media and networking via accounts at Twitter, Facebook and YouTube this season; allowing fans, friends, followers and even members of the media the opportunity to closely follow and interact with the five-year IndyCar Series participant. The team's new site was designed by RACERSITES.COM.

* ON LOAN: Considered a win-win situation for all involved, Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has taken over piloting duties of A.J. Foyt's No. 14 ABC Supply entry for the remainder of the 2009 IndyCar season in a deal that began at Iowa. Hunter-Reay, who drove the No. 21 Vision Honda Dallara to a second place podium finish in the 2009 season opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida, and has transferred his driving services to A.J. Foyt Racing as a temporary replacement for the injured Vitor Meira.

* 2009 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: This season's highlight to date came in the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. when Ryan Hunter-Reay started 14th and drove all the way to finish in second place. Since then, Carpenter has added four top-ten finishes at Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa.

* AS SEEN ON TV: Patrick Dempsey joined Vision Racing prior to the 2006 season, taking on a new role that has been making hearts race in a literal way as a team co-owner. Known for his scene-stealing turns in such '80s nostalgia classics such as Can't Buy Me Love and Loverboy, Patrick Dempsey continues to please America with his explosive charisma and versatile talent. Dempsey is the star of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey's no stranger to the racetrack when he's not in front of the camera. A true racer at heart, he's currently driving professionally in Grand American Cup class sports car racing with Dempsey Racing, formerly Hypersport. He raced a Ferrari F430 GT with Team Seattle in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and also competed in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

* A TEAM WITH A VISION: Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George, their daughter Lauren George and actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition and second year of Firestone Indy Lights racing. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and Indy car racing.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone:
Has the team's best finish at Watkins Glen with a sixth place drive in 2006.

* AT WATKINS GLEN: The IndyCar Series visited the 3.37-mile road course at Watkins Glen International for the first time in 2005 where Carpenter started in the 20th spot and worked his way up to 14th to finish the race. In 2006 he had an even better outing as he drove from 18th, all the way up to fifth, and finished sixth in what is currently tied for the team's best road course finish. In 2007, Carpenter led Vision Racing's three-car effort at Watkins Glen when he started 17th, ran as high as fifth and finished 12th. Just last season Carpenter started 21st and finished 17th.

* BABY ON BOARD: Just as planned, Carpenter and wife Heather (Pettigrew) welcomed their second child into the world on June 1st as the 8 lb. 1 oz., 20 inch long Ryder Carpenter arrived on his due date. Big sister, Makenna was born in October 2007, while the couple was married November 8, 2005 on the Island of St. Thomas.

* TWEET, TWEET: With the birth of his second child, son Ryder, Carpenter decided it would be the perfect time to make his debut on Twitter.com as well; joining Vision Racing's Twitter efforts. You can view Carpenter's Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20 and follow the team at www.twitter.com/visionracing.

* MOST RECENTLY: Carpenter started from the 14th position and ran as high as eighth in the race, but was caught out twice by yellow flags immediately after making his second and third pit stops. Those cautions caused by on-track accidents impeded any progress and advancement Carpenter could have made via pit stop cycles and fuel saving strategies. He finished the race running in the 13th spot which dropped Carpenter one point in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 13th position with 143 points (136 points behind the leaders).

* 2009 SEASON: This is the sixth full season in IndyCar Series competition for Carpenter and the seventh season that he has participated in overall. Carpenter is looking to build off of four top-ten finishes earned in the last six consecutive oval races. His top-ten finishes came on the ovals of Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa. The Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen will be Carpenter's ninth event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season.

* LEADER LAPS: In his fifth IndyCar Series start in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, Carpenter recorded his first laps led in an IndyCar. He led the field for three laps under caution and finished an Indianapolis 500 career-best, fifth. His most recent leader lap came this season at Texas Motor Speedway when Carpenter was credited for leading one lap. He has a total of four (4) career-leader laps.

* BACK WITH MENARDS: The No. 20 Vision Racing machine again features the most recognizable car on track as it carries the day-glow yellow color of Menards for the second consecutive season. Menards returned as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, driven by Ed Carpenter. The Menards sponsorship also continues a long-lasting relationship between the home store retailer with Carpenter. The 28-year-old driver carried the Menards livery in 2002, with Sinden Racing in Firestone Indy Lights competition and well before that his days of dirt track racing behind the wheel of quarter midgets.

* NEW VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT: Carpenter still has the same view from the cockpit that he's always had, but fans of the driver will notice a different look coming from his cockpit this season as his helmet is carrying the distinct colors and logos of the premium jean and clothing retailer, William Rast, for the 2009 season.

* ED "CARPENTER": Carpenter and his arsenal of power tools have been busy again this past off-season as he has been knee deep in a house flipping project with a long time friend as well as occupied with rehab projects around his own home. Of course, Menards has been an essential part of Carpenter's home repair ventures. Prior to his current real estate investment, Carpenter and his "do-it-yourself" mentality crafted his home repair skills with his first home and family heirloom. The home is located in Speedway, Ind. was purchased as new in 1955 by stepfather Tony George's parents, Elmer and Mari George. Tony grew up in the home as a boy and for a time, drivers A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey lived in the basement.

* DOUBLE DUTY: Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend.

* INAUGURAL BRICKYARD WINNER: Carpenter won the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 in 2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making him an inaugural winner at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Ray Haroun (Indianapolis 500), Jeff Gordon (Brickyard 400), and Michael Schumacher (United States Grand Prix).

* BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: Carpenter graduated from 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifying Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., with a marketing degree in May 2003.

* DID YOU KNOW? Carpenter enjoys water skiing, snowboarding, hunting and cycling. His racing heroes include Al Unser Jr., A.J. Foyt, and Lance Armstrong and he has two dogs; a Rottweiler named Bentley and a Chihuahua named Rosco.

* ED AT-A-GLANCE: Carpenter is participating in his sixth season in the IndyCar Series, and his fifth with his second team in Vision Racing. The 28-year-old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an IRL Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter, who has been with the team since it's inception in 2005, is determined to make his sixth season overall, the best for both he and the team. Last year Carpenter recorded seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives and his first leader laps.

About the Camping World Grand Prix: The 60 lap/ 204 mile Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen will air live on Sunday, July 5th at 1:00 p.m. ET on ABC, as well as IMS Radio Network, XM IndyCar Series Racing Channel 145, XM Sports Nation Channel 144 and on the web at www.IndyCar.com.


www.VisionRacing.com
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:01 pm

CARPENTER TO START 21st AT WATKINS GLEN

WATKINS GLEN, New York (July 4, 2009)-Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter will start from Row 11 (21st) in the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine for the Camping World Indy Grand Prix on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. Carpenter's qualifying average came in at a time of 1:31.6852 which equates to an average of 132.322 mph.

Carpenter's best finish at Watkins Glen came in 2006 when he started 18th, drove all the way up to fifth and finished in the sixth position. Other finishes include 14th in 2005, 12th in 2007 and 17th last year.

Most recently at Richmond International Raceway, Carpenter started from the 14th position and ran as high as eighth in the race, but was caught out twice by yellow flags immediately after making his second and third pit stops. Those cautions caused by on-track accidents impeded any progress and advancement Carpenter could have made via pit stop cycles and fuel saving strategies. He finished the race running in the 13th spot which dropped Carpenter one point in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 13th position with 143 points (136 points behind the leaders).

Overall, Vision Racing returns to Watkins Glen International for the fifth time. The team's best finish at Watkins Glen came in 2006 when Ed Carpenter took sixth place. That same year Tomas Scheckter also finished in the tenth spot.

Fans watching the Camping World Indy Grand Prix at the Glen on Sunday's ABC TV coverage beginning at 1 p.m. (ET) will get the opportunity to see the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing machine from a birds-eye view. The day-glow Menards/Dallara will carry an in-car camera this weekend giving viewers a unique perspective as Carpenter pilots the car around the 3.37-mile natural terrain road course.

IndyCar practice resumes again Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for a thirty minute session before the race beings at 1 p.m., live on ABC TV.
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:01 pm

VISION SETTLES FOR 16TH PLACE FINISH AT WATKINS

WATKINS GLEN, New York (July 5, 2009) - After being unceremoniously punted out of his tenth place running position by a competitor, Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter found himself battling on for a 16th place finish at Watkins Glen International Sunday afternoon for the fifth annual Camping World Grand Prix. After starting in the 21st position, a bit of strategy and good fortune put Carpenter and the No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine in the tenth position following his first pit stop and subsequent full course caution.

While running in the top-ten on lap 23 for the restart, competitor Mario Moraes completed an ill-advised move approaching turn five and made significant contact with the No.20 Menards car. The incident forced Carpenter to take the road course short cut on his way back to the pits and caused damage to the car.

Carpenter was obligated to make two stops due to the incident as he took on new Firestone Firehawk tires, a refill of Ethanol, and a repair of the right-rear tow link. The Menards/Vision Racing crew made a speedy repair of the car, but Carpenter was still forced to go a lap down as a penalty for taking the short cut.

Dropping back to the 19th position, Carpenter put forth his best effort to salvage a decent finish. In doing so, he was able to move up three spots and take the checkered flag in the 16th position. Unfortunately, it was not the sort of result that Carpenter desired as he dropped one spot in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 14th position with 157 total points (156 points behind the leader).

Justin Wilson of Dale Coyne Racing won the event, which marks the first race this season in the IndyCar Series that a car other than that of Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing has won. It was also Dale Coyne Racing's first-ever victory as an organization. Rounding out the podium were Ryan Briscoe of Penske and Scott Dixon of Ganassi. Dixon also took control of the championship points lead with 313 total points.

Watch the IndyCar Series in action next weekend for the Series' debut at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for the Honda Indy Toronto. The race broadcast will air live from the streets of Toronto on Sunday, July 12th at 1 p.m. (ET) on ABC.
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Post by mlittle » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:16 am

Vision Takes to the Streets of Toronto

* TAKING THE VISION TO TORONTO: Vision Racing and the IndyCar Series ventures to Toronto, Ontario, Canada and its city streets for the first time. The team's best road and street course finish came earlier this year on the streets of St. Petersburg when Ryan Hunter-Reay finished in the second position. Ed Carpenter's best road/street course finish came at Watkins Glen when he took sixth place in 2006.

* NEW LOOK FOR CANADA: Vision Racing is pleased to announce that the William Rast branding livery will ride again this season, only this time on the team's No. 20 Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry driven by Ed Carpenter. William Rast, a People's Liberation subsidiary known for its stylish high-end denim, will be the primary sponsor on the No. 20 car for the IndyCar Series' Canadian swing through Toronto and Edmonton. While William Rast, a premium lifestyle brand with emphasis on stylish jeans, has been a mainstay on the Vision Racing body work all season, it was last featured as a primary on the team's No. 21 car driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. Carpenter's car will feature a grey matte finish, day-glow orange accents and of course, William Rast branding.

* BIRDS-EYE VIEW: Fans watching the Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday's ABC TV coverage beginning at 1 p.m. (ET), will get the opportunity to see the No. 20 William Rast/Vision Racing machine from a birds-eye view. The car will carry an in-car camera this weekend giving viewers a unique perspective as Carpenter pilots the car around the streets of Toronto.

* HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: After joining the Indy Racing League in 2005, Vision Racing is celebrating its fifth season of competition in 2009. Since the team embarked upon IndyCar Series competition, eight drivers have piloted five (Nos. 2, 20, 21, 22, 90) different team entries. Those drivers have combined for an additional 45 top-10 finishes, plus 10 top-five finishes, three more podium finishes and 42 laps led. Over the previous four years the quest for the team's first victory has been top priority and Vision Racing is confident that year five will be the season where that it happens. The team's best ever finish occurred in the 2009 season opener as Ryan Hunter-Reay drove from 14th to finish second in the race. That podium finish also put Vision second in the championship point standings which was also its' the highest-ever ranking. The Honda Indy Toronto will be the team's 76th IndyCar Series event since their first season in 2005.

* ON ROAD/STREET COURSES: The team's best finishes on a road or street course is second, recently scored in the 2009 season-opener at St. Petersburg by Ryan Hunter-Reay in his debut with the team. It's is also the team's highest finish overall. Prior to Hunter-Reay's podium finish, the previous best road and street course drives include a fourth place finish scored by Paul Tracy in 2008 at Edmonton, and a pair of sixth place drives; one captured by Tomas Scheckter on the streets of St. Petersburg in 2007 and the other by Ed Carpenter in 2006 at Watkins Glen International

* FIND US ONLINE, ANYTIME: Just a couple of weeks ago, the team launched the newly remodeled www.VisionRacing.com. The site not only features great design and features, but also boasts its own fan site with additional content just for fans. The site is also the hub of the team's social media experiment for the 2009 season. Vision Racing has established itself in the realm of online social media and networking via accounts at Twitter, Facebook and YouTube this season; allowing fans, friends, followers and even members of the media the opportunity to closely follow and interact with the five-year IndyCar Series participant. Be sure to follow the team's Twitter feed all race weekend long for behind the scenes info, pictures and maybe even an impromptu, trackside "tweet-ups!" The team's new site was designed by RACERSITES.COM.

* ON LOAN: Considered a win-win situation for all involved, Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has taken over piloting duties of A.J. Foyt's No. 14 ABC Supply entry for the remainder of the 2009 IndyCar season in a deal that began at Iowa. Hunter-Reay, who drove the No. 21 Vision Honda Dallara to a second place podium finish in the 2009 season opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida, and has transferred his driving services to A.J. Foyt Racing as a temporary replacement for the injured Vitor Meira
.

* 2009 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: This season's highlight to date came in the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. when Ryan Hunter-Reay started 14th and drove all the way to finish in second place. Since then, Carpenter has added four top-ten finishes at Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa.

* AS SEEN ON TV: Patrick Dempsey joined Vision Racing prior to the 2006 season, taking on a new role that has been making hearts race in a literal way as a team co-owner. Known for his scene-stealing turns in such '80s nostalgia classics such as Can't Buy Me Love and Loverboy, Patrick Dempsey continues to please America with his explosive charisma and versatile talent. Dempsey is the star of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey's no stranger to the racetrack when he's not in front of the camera. A true racer at heart, he's currently driving professionally in Grand American Cup class sports car racing with Dempsey Racing, formerly Hypersport. He raced a Ferrari F430 GT with Team Seattle in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and also competed in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

* A TEAM WITH A VISION: Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George, their daughter Lauren George and actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition and second year of Firestone Indy Lights racing. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and Indy car racing.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone:
Making debut at Toronto for just his 21st career road/street course start.

* AT TORONTO: Carpenter will be making his debut on the streets of Toronto this weekend. It will be Carpenter's 21st road/street course race EVER! His best finish in those 21 starts came at Watkins Glen, in 2006 when he drove as high as fifth and finished sixth. Ed has never started in the top-ten on a road or street course, but has finished in the top-ten twice (sixth at Watkins Glen in 2006 and 10th at Detroit in 2007). In the team's most recent road course affair at Watkins Glen, Carpenter was driving in the tenth position when Mario Moraes made an aboidable move and hit Carpenter, causing damage to the No. 20 machine. The team's best road/street course finish came in the season-opener this year at St. Pete when Ryan Hunter-Reay finished second. That was also the team's highest-ever finish.

* BABY ON BOARD: Just as planned, Carpenter and wife Heather (Pettigrew) welcomed their second child into the world on June 1st as the 8 lb. 1 oz., 20 inch long Ryder Carpenter arrived on his due date. Young Ryder has been traveling the IndyCar Series circuit with his family at just a few weeks old; joining the schedule back in June for the Iowa event and tagging along ever since. Big sister, Makenna was born in October 2007, while the couple was married November 8, 2005 on the Island of St. Thomas.

* TWEET, TWEET: With the birth of his second child, son Ryder, Carpenter decided it would be the perfect time to make his debut on Twitter.com as well; joining Vision Racing's Twitter efforts. You can view Carpenter's Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20 and follow the team at www.twitter.com/visionracing. Speaking of Twitter, Carpenter is also making good use of the in-car camera by adding his Twitter handle to the top of his William Rast branded helmet. It reads
edcarpenter20.

* MOST RECENTLY: After being unceremoniously punted out of his tenth place running position by a competitor, Carpenter found himself battling on for a 16th place finish at Watkins Glen last Sunday afternoon for the fifth annual Camping World Grand Prix. After starting in the 21st position, a bit of strategy and good fortune put Carpenter and the No. 20 Menards machine in the tenth position following his first pit stop and subsequent full course caution. While running in the top-ten on lap 23 for the restart, competitor Mario Moraes completed an ill-advised move approaching turn five and made significant contact with the No.20 Menards car. Carpenter's crew was able to repair the damage (flat tire and broken right-rear tow link) and get him back on track where he worked his way from the 19th position to take 16th at the checkered flag.

* 2009 SEASON: This is the sixth full season in IndyCar Series competition for Carpenter and the seventh season that he has participated in overall. Carpenter is looking to build off of four top-ten finishes earned in the last six consecutive oval races. His top-ten finishes came on the ovals of Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa. The Honda Indy Toronto will be Carpenter's tenth event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season.

* LEADER LAPS: In his fifth IndyCar Series start in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, Carpenter recorded his first laps led in an IndyCar. He led the field for three laps under caution and finished an Indianapolis 500 career-best, fifth. His most recent leader lap came this season at Texas Motor Speedway when Carpenter was credited for leading one lap. He has a total of four (4) career-leader laps.

* BACK WITH MENARDS: The No. 20 Vision Racing machine again features the most recognizable car on track as it carries the day-glow yellow color of Menards for the second consecutive season. Menards returned as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, driven by Ed Carpenter. The Menards sponsorship also continues a long-lasting relationship between the home store retailer with Carpenter. The 28-year-old driver carried the Menards livery in 2002, with Sinden Racing in Firestone Indy Lights competition and well before that his days of dirt track racing behind the wheel of quarter midgets.

* NEW VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT: Carpenter still has the same view from the cockpit that he's always had, but fans of the driver will notice a different look coming from his cockpit this season as his helmet is carrying the distinct colors and logos of the premium jean and clothing retailer, William Rast, for the 2009 season. For the Canadian events at Toronto and Edmonton, Carpenter's helmet will match his car as his No. 20 machine will carry William Rast primary sponsorship at those races.

* ED "CARPENTER": Carpenter and his arsenal of power tools have been busy again this past off-season as he has been knee deep in a house flipping project with a long time friend as well as occupied with rehab projects around his own home. Of course, Menards has been an essential part of Carpenter's home repair ventures. Prior to his current real estate investment, Carpenter and his "do-it-yourself" mentality crafted his home repair skills with his first home and family heirloom. The home is located in Speedway, Ind. was purchased as new in 1955 by stepfather Tony George's parents, Elmer and Mari George. Tony grew up in the home as a boy and for a time, drivers A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey lived in the basement.

* DOUBLE DUTY: Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend.

* INAUGURAL BRICKYARD WINNER: Carpenter won the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 in 2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making him an inaugural winner at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Ray Haroun (Indianapolis 500), Jeff Gordon (Brickyard 400), and Michael Schumacher (United States Grand Prix).

* BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: Carpenter graduated from 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifying Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., with a marketing degree in May 2003.

* DID YOU KNOW? Carpenter enjoys water skiing, snowboarding, hunting and cycling. His racing heroes include Al Unser Jr., A.J. Foyt, and Lance Armstrong and he has two dogs; a Rottweiler named Bentley and a Chihuahua named Rosco.

* ED AT-A-GLANCE: Carpenter is participating in his sixth season in the IndyCar Series, and his fifth with his second team in Vision Racing. The 28-year-old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an IRL Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter, who has been with the team since it's inception in 2005, is determined to make his sixth season overall, the best for both he and the team. Last year Carpenter recorded seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives and his first leader laps.

About the Honda Indy Toronto: The Honda Indy Toronto held on the streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada will air live on Sunday, July 12th at 1:00 p.m. ET on ABC, as well as IMS Radio Network, XM IndyCar Series Racing Channel 145, XM Sports Nation Channel 144 and on the web at www.IndyCar.com.
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Post by mlittle » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:17 am

A STATEMENT FROM TONY GEORGE
July 10, 2009

Vision Racing Team Owner Tony George responds to the recent announcement regarding the restructuring of management for Hulman & Company and Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The following is a statement by Tony George in response to the June 30th announcement by the Board of Directors of Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that a new management team comprised of veteran IMS executives W. Curtis Brighton and Jeffrey G. Belskus will head the Hulman-George companies, effective July 1.

"Nearly 20 years ago, I was asked by my family to represent our business as President and Chief Executive Officer. Since accepting that position, I have served at the pleasure of the board and, in doing so, I enthusiastically agreed to commit myself to stewardship of a great institution. While my service as CEO has now ended, I consider my stewardship to be a life-long appointment.

At a board meeting a little over a month ago, the Board of Directors of Hulman & Co. and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway asked me to propose a management reorganization that would focus my duties exclusively upon the operation, promotion, and development of the Indy Racing League, which I founded in 1994 and have overseen the development of since 1996.

At a board meeting last week, I was asked to continue as CEO of the Indy Racing League, reporting to a new President and CEO of IMS. In my view, this would have created an unnecessary bureaucratic layer between the people in the operations of the IRL and the CEO of IMS that had not previously existed. From the perspective of my experience as President and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I am acutely aware that the interests of IndyCar racing as a sport, the IRL as a league, and the most important motorsports race in the world, are mutually dependant and inter-connected, both now and in the future. I did not feel that a subordinate position as "CEO of the IRL" was a management vehicle which would allow me to accomplish the objectives that the family and the board requested me to pursue. I declined that position.

Since our May board meeting, as requested, I have offered my advice to the board on management reorganization, but also and perhaps more importantly, a reorganization of our board, which would provide a structure for better governance for generations to come. It is my belief that, with the recent unification of open-wheel racing, the focus should be on the future rather than the past.

I am encouraged that in recent conversations with my mother and Chairman of the Board, Mari George, I learned that she also sees the wisdom of taking a forward-looking approach which will provide consistent and coordinated leadership. In the near future, I will be providing a proposal for the board to evaluate. I have been assured by the Chairman that the board will engage in appropriate dialogue, with constructive give and take.

The success of any organization relies on strong leadership from management to execute strategies that focus on achieving results, and a board whose vision is focused on owner and stakeholder returns.

There have been many questions raised in the industry and in the media about whether any of these recent changes reflect a reduction in the commitment of our family or the IMS to the IRL or the sport of IndyCar. I have been assured by my mother that no such reduction of support or commitment is intended or anticipated. I can assure teams, sponsors, media and fans that our family is sincere in its commitment to the Indianapolis 500, the League and the sport."
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:28 am

CARPENTER IMPROVES ON STREETS OF TORONTO; QUALIFIES 19th

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (July 11, 2009)-Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter will start from Row 10, 19th on the grid, in the No. 20 William Rast / Menards Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine for the Honda Indy Toronto in Canada. Carpenter's qualifying effort on the 1.755-mile street circuit showed improvement with every lap, setting a best time of 1:02.5907 which equates to an average speed of 100.942 mph.

This is Carpenter's first time racing on the streets of Toronto and only his 22nd career road or street event and he was able to improve his time from Friday practice by two and a half seconds by the end of the first round of qualifying. Putting it into perspective by making a comparison to local favorite, "The Thrill from West Hill", Paul Tracy, who will make his 17th start on the streets of Toronto, you could argue that the no.20 Vision car was just 3/10th off, and the driver was another 3/10 off Tracy's posted qualifying time to make up the 6/10th of a second separating the two on the scoring charts.

While Ed has never started in the top-ten on a road or street course, he has finished in the top-ten twice (sixth at Watkins Glen in 2006 and 10th at Detroit in 2007). In the team's most recent road course affair at Watkins Glen, Carpenter was driving in the tenth position when Mario Moraes made avoidable contact with Carpenter, causing damage to the No. 20 machine. Vision Racing's best road/street course finish came in the season-opener this season at St. Pete when Ryan Hunter-Reay finished second. That was also the team's highest-ever finish in its five season of competition.

Dario Franchitti earned the pole position for the Toronto race and will be joined on the front row by Will Power. The rest of the Firestone Fast Six Qualifiers included Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson, Alex Tagliani and Mike Conway.

Fans watching the Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday's ABC TV coverage beginning at 1 p.m. (ET) will get the opportunity to see the No. 20 William Rast/ Menards/Vision Racing machine from a birds-eye view. The new look (for the Canadian races only) Vision entry will carry an in-car camera this weekend giving viewers a unique perspective as Carpenter pilots the car around the 1.755-mile course on the streets of Toronto.

IndyCar Series warm up will take place Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for a thirty minute session before the race beings at 1 p.m., live on ABC TV.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"We picked up almost two and a half seconds from yesterday in practice so I'm happy about that. Our goal coming into the weekend was to qualifying in front of some people in our group and looking at it, we felt that as strong as the group was, Dan Wheldon was our target. I'm pretty happy to have been able to beat Dan and be only 1.3 off Dario (Franchitti)'s time (P1 in Group 1) our first time here on the street of Toronto. This is the best I have felt about a qualifying effort on a street course. It was a small goal that we set for ourselves but I'll take it and try to carry on with a solid effort in the race."
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:50 pm

CARPENTER PERSEVERES TO 15TH PLACE IN DEBUT AT TORONTO

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada (July 12, 2009) - Starting from the 19th spot on the grid in his debut on the streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter held on and persevered through a wild and exciting Honda Indy Toronto behind the wheel of the No. 20 William Rast Dallara/Honda/Firestone.

After dropping to the 20th position just after the start of the race, Carpenter battled back on track and took advantage of other's mistakes and utilized a solid strategy to move as high as the 12th position during the first of many full-course cautions on lap eight.

Upon the first race restart on lap 12, while running in the 12th spot, Carpenter experienced his first bit of excitement with a small spin while getting on the power in turn six. Carpenter was able to resume, but fell to the 23rd position. Track conditions made for slippery conditions, a scenario that Carpenter confirmed on the radio to his team before spinning for a second time on lap 26. Once again, he was able to carry on in the race and by lap 45 had made up three positions.

On lap 58 the adversity for Carpenter continued as competitor Graham Rahal put his car inside of the No. 20 William Rast machine while both cars were navigating a tight turn. The contact between the two drivers put Carpenter into the air and Rahal into the wall. Yet again, Carpenter managed to press on in the race in spite of the incident.

Working his way up to the 17th spot, Carpenter stopped for a pit stop to check for damage and change to red walled Firestone tires. From that point, Carpenter soldiered on to the finish while others experienced misfortunes and mishaps on the tricky street course. For his efforts and patience, Carpenter scored a 15th place result.

Unfortunately, Carpenter dropped one spot again in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 15th position with 172 total points (175 points behind the leader).

Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi won the wild race and resumes control of the championship points standings as a result with 247 total points. Rounding out the podium was Ryan Briscoe and Will Power of Team Penske.

Watch the IndyCar Series in action two weeks from today for the Series' return to Edmonton Centre Airport for the Rexall Edmonton Indy. The race broadcast will air live from Edmonton on Sunday, July 26th at 5 p.m. (ET) on VERSUS.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 William Rast/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"There sure was a lot of action but I'm just really disappointed in myself. Everything was looking good yesterday when we had a really good qualifying effort and we were trying to build on that in the race. Every street course this year I've manage to spoil our efforts. These races turn into attrition races every time and instead of taking advantage, I've done something to set us back. I have to apologize to William Rast, Manards, Johns Manville and Lilly and especially all the guys that work hard on this team. We had something to be happy about yesterday and today I threw it all away trying to get my rear tires cleaned off before the restart and just lit them up and lost it. It was a stupid mistake."
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Post by mlittle » Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:26 am

Edmonton: Vision Racing preview
Racing series INDYCAR
Date 2009-07-23

* TAKING THE VISION TO EDMONTON: Vision Racing and the IndyCar Series ventures to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the Edmonton City Centre Airport for the second time. In the team's debut at the 1.937-mile road course in 2008, they added driver Paul Tracy in the No. 22 Subway sponsored car along side the team's regulars, Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV. Tracy made a lasting impression in his debut with the team in his native country as he battled the odds to work his way from a 15th place starting spot on the grid to run with the leaders, and narrowly missed out on a podium finish in his first outing for the Vision team in a collaborative one-race effort with Walker Racing. Fellow team drivers A.J. Foyt IV and Ed Carpenter finished 12th and 13th respectively. The team's best road and street course finish came earlier this year on the streets of St. Petersburg when Ryan Hunter-Reay finished in the second position. Ed Carpenter's best road/street course finish came at Watkins Glen when he took sixth place in 2006.

* NEW LOOK FOR CANADA: Vision Racing is pleased continue the running of William Rast branded livery in Canada as Carpenter will drive the No. 20 William Rast Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry for the second-consecutive race, after debuting the car two weeks ago at Toronto. William Rast, a People's Liberation subsidiary known for its stylish high-end denim, is the primary sponsor on the No. 20 car this season for the IndyCar Series' Canadian swing through Toronto and Edmonton. While William Rast, a premium lifestyle brand with emphasis on stylish denim, has been a mainstay on the Vision Racing body work all season, it was also featured earlier in the year as a primary on the team's No. 21 car driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. However, the William Rast moniker has been featured on the Vision Racing entries at each event this season. Carpenter's car will feature a grey matte finish, day-glow orange accents and of course, William Rast branding.

* HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: After forming and joining the Indy Racing League in 2005, Vision Racing is celebrating its fifth season of competition in 2009. Since the team embarked upon IndyCar Series competition, eight drivers have piloted five (Nos. 2, 20, 21, 22, 90) different team entries. Those drivers have combined for an additional 45 top-10 finishes, plus 10 top-five finishes, three more podium finishes and 42 laps led. Over the previous four years the quest for the team's first victory has been top priority and Vision Racing is confident that year five will be the season where that it happens. The team's best ever finish occurred in the 2009 season opener as Ryan Hunter-Reay drove from 14th to finish second in the race. That podium finish also put Vision second in the championship point standings which was also its' the highest-ever ranking. The Rexall Edmonton Indy will be the team's 77th IndyCar Series event since their first season in 2005.

* SUMMER VACATION: Thanks to a mid-season break in the schedule this past weekend, team members got to enjoy some rare time away from the racetrack to spend with their families and friends. Team co-owners, Tony, Laura and Lauren George and driver Ed Carpenter, and their respective families spent their free time in the beautiful state of Montana before making the trek up to Edmonton for the race.

* ON ROAD/STREET COURSES: The team's best finishes on a road or street course is second, recently scored in the 2009 season-opener at St. Petersburg by Ryan Hunter-Reay in his debut with the team. It's is also the team's highest finish overall. Prior to Hunter-Reay's podium finish, the previous best road and street course drives include a fourth place finish scored by Paul Tracy in 2008 at Edmonton, and a pair of sixth place drives; one captured by Tomas Scheckter on the streets of St. Petersburg in 2007 and the other by Ed Carpenter in 2006 at Watkins Glen International

* FIND US ONLINE, ANYTIME: Just a couple of weeks ago, the team launched the newly remodeled www.VisionRacing.com. The site not only features great design and features, but also boasts its own fan site with additional content just for fans. The site is also the hub of the team's social media experiment for the 2009 season. Vision Racing has established itself in the realm of online social media and networking via accounts at Twitter, Facebook and YouTube this season; allowing fans, friends, followers and even members of the media the opportunity to closely follow and interact with the five-year IndyCar Series participant. Be sure to follow the team's Twitter feed all race weekend long for behind the scenes info, pictures and maybe even an impromptu, trackside "tweet-up!" The team's new site was designed by RACERSITES.COM.

* ON LOAN: Considered a win-win situation for all involved, Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has taken over piloting duties of A.J. Foyt's No. 14 ABC Supply entry for the remainder of the 2009 IndyCar season in a deal that began at Iowa. Hunter-Reay, who drove the No. 21 Vision Honda Dallara to a second place podium finish in the 2009 season opener at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida, and has transferred his driving services to A.J. Foyt Racing as a temporary replacement for the injured Vitor Meira.

* 2009 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: This season's highlight to date came in the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. when Ryan Hunter-Reay started 14th and drove all the way to finish in second place. Since then, Carpenter has added four top-ten finishes at Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa.

* AS SEEN ON TV: Patrick Dempsey joined Vision Racing prior to the 2006 season, taking on a new role that has been making hearts race in a literal way as a team co-owner. Known for his scene-stealing turns in such '80s nostalgia classics such as Can't Buy Me Love and Loverboy, Patrick Dempsey continues to please America with his explosive charisma and versatile talent. Dempsey is the star of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey's no stranger to the racetrack when he's not in front of the camera. A true racer at heart, he's currently driving professionally in Grand American Cup class sports car racing with Dempsey Racing, formerly Hypersport. He raced a Ferrari F430 GT with Team Seattle in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and also competed in the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

* A TEAM WITH A VISION: Vision Racing is owned and operated by Tony and Laura George, their daughter Lauren George and actor Patrick Dempsey of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana in a 32,000 square foot facility. The team competes full-time in the IndyCar Series and is entering its fifth season of IndyCar Series competition and second year of Firestone Indy Lights racing. Vision Racing continues to proudly perpetuate the legacy of the Hulman-George family through motorsports excellence, by demonstrating the traditions and heritage of the Indianapolis 500 and Indy car racing.

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone:

Making second career start at Edmonton.

* AT EDMONTON: Carpenter will be making his second start at the Edmonton City Centre Airport. Last year, driving the Vision Racing No. 20 Menards machine, he started from the 23rd spot and advanced ten places to finish in the 13th spot.

* MOST RECENTLY: Starting from the 19th spot on the grid in his debut on the streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Carpenter held on and persevered through a wild and exciting Honda Indy Toronto to finish the race in the 15th spot. He fell back as far as the 23rd spot after running as high up as 12th and overcame a pair of spins and contact with Graham Rahal to move his way back up through the field and finish in 15th. Unfortunately, Carpenter dropped one spot again in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 15th position with 172 total points (175 points behind the leader).

* BABY ON BOARD: Just as planned, Carpenter and wife Heather (Pettigrew) welcomed their second child into the world on June 1st as the 8 lb. 1 oz., 20 inch long Ryder Carpenter arrived on his due date. Young Ryder has been traveling the IndyCar Series circuit with his family at just a few weeks old; joining the schedule back in June for the Iowa event and tagging along ever since. Big sister, Makenna was born in October 2007, while the couple was married November 8, 2005 on the Island of St. Thomas.

* TWEET, TWEET: With the birth of his second child, son Ryder, Carpenter decided it would be the perfect time to make his debut on Twitter.com as well; joining Vision Racing's Twitter efforts. You can view Carpenter's Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/edcarpenter20 and follow the team at www.twitter.com/visionracing.

* 2009 SEASON: This is the sixth full season in IndyCar Series competition for Carpenter and the seventh season that he has participated in overall. Carpenter is looking to build off of four top-ten finishes earned in the last six consecutive oval races. His top-ten finishes came on the ovals of Kansas, Indianapolis, Texas and Iowa. The Rexall Edmonton Indy will be Carpenter's eleventh event of the 2009 IndyCar Series season.

* LEADER LAPS: In his fifth IndyCar Series start in at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, Carpenter recorded his first laps led in an IndyCar. He led the field for three laps under caution and finished an Indianapolis 500 career-best, fifth. His most recent leader lap came this season at Texas Motor Speedway when Carpenter was credited for leading one lap. He has a total of four (4) career-leader laps.

* BACK WITH MENARDS: The No. 20 Vision Racing machine again features the most recognizable car on track as it carries the day-glow yellow color of Menards for the second consecutive season. Menards returned as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, driven by Ed Carpenter. The Menards sponsorship also continues a long-lasting relationship between the home store retailer with Carpenter. The 28-year-old driver carried the Menards livery in 2002, with Sinden Racing in Firestone Indy Lights competition and well before that his days of dirt track racing behind the wheel of quarter midgets.

* NEW VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT: Carpenter still has the same view from the cockpit that he's always had, but fans of the driver will notice a different look coming from his cockpit this season as his helmet is carrying the distinct colors and logos of the premium jean and clothing retailer, William Rast, for the 2009 season. For the Canadian events at Toronto and Edmonton, Carpenter's helmet will match his car as his No. 20 machine will carry William Rast primary sponsorship at those races.

* ED "CARPENTER": Carpenter and his arsenal of power tools have been busy again this past off-season as he has been knee deep in a house flipping project with a long time friend as well as occupied with rehab projects around his own home. Of course, Menards has been an essential part of Carpenter's home repair ventures. Prior to his current real estate investment, Carpenter and his "do-it-yourself" mentality crafted his home repair skills with his first home and family heirloom. The home is located in Speedway, Ind. was purchased as new in 1955 by stepfather Tony George's parents, Elmer and Mari George. Tony grew up in the home as a boy and for a time, drivers A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey lived in the basement.

* DOUBLE DUTY: Ed Carpenter made history in September 2003 at Chicagoland Speedway when he became the first driver to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend.

* INAUGURAL BRICKYARD WINNER: Carpenter won the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 in 2003 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making him an inaugural winner at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Ray Haroun (Indianapolis 500), Jeff Gordon (Brickyard 400), and Michael Schumacher (United States Grand Prix).

* BIG MAN ON CAMPUS: Carpenter graduated from 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament qualifying Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., with a marketing degree in May 2003.

* DID YOU KNOW? Carpenter enjoys water skiing, snowboarding, hunting and cycling. His racing heroes include Al Unser Jr., A.J. Foyt, and Lance Armstrong and he has two dogs; a Rottweiler named Bentley and a Chihuahua named Rosco.

* ED AT-A-GLANCE: Carpenter is participating in his sixth season in the IndyCar Series, and his fifth with his second team in Vision Racing. The 28-year-old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an IRL Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter, who has been with the team since it's inception in 2005, is determined to make his sixth season overall, the best for both he and the team. Last year Carpenter recorded seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives and his first leader laps.
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:55 pm

CARPENTER DRIVES TO 16TH PLACE FINISH AT EDMONTON

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (July 26, 2009) - Starting from the 23rd spot on the grid for the Rexall Edmonton Indy, held at the Edmonton City Centre Airport in Western Canada, Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter drove a clean race, took advantage of others' mistakes and took the checkered flag in the 16th position driving the No. 20 William Rast sponsored Dallara/ Honda/ Firestone.

Carpenter made just two pit stops in the 95-lap event, which was a green-lap affair up until two laps from the finish when Tomas Scheckter made contact with the wall. The race finished under caution, but the lack of a full-course yellow allowed the field to spread out amidst the 1.973-mile road course during the contest.

Unfortunately, with the result, Carpenter drops another spot in the IndyCar Series championship point standings to the 16th position with 186 total points (194 points behind the leader).

Will Power of Team Penske won the race from the pole in his part-time ride driving the No. 12 Penske Truck Rental Machine. Rounding out the podium was Helio Castroneves of Team Penske and Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing. With the result, Dixon takes back control of the championship points standings with 380 total points

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 William Rast/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

It wasn't too bad a day considering. My car was way better on red Firestone tires than it was on blacks. For the middle stint, when I was on the black tires, my times were pretty bad and I had tons and tons of understeer. The red Firestone tires made the balance good enough that I could run some decent lap times and got into a good rhythm. It was a tough race going green the way it did until the last couple of laps. It made for a long day but unlike the other street courses, I didn't make any stupid mistakes, spin, run into anything or anybody, so I'll take that as a positive. With it going all green, being as physical as it was, I would have liked to have seen some some attrition especially since I didn't make any mistakes."

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