INDYCARNATION

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Ed Carpenter makes a stop during the race

Ed Carpenter has experienced a few “oh-so-close” moments in the last year. Last August, the Indianapolis resident came inches away from taking his first IZOD IndyCar Series win at Kentucky Speedway. In April, he watched his alma mater Butler come inches away from winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Though Carpenter initially came away disappointed, perspective has let him look back on those two events and appreciate them for what they are – something to be proud of.

Carpenter took some time to answer a few questions from indycar.com about sitting on the sidelines, his outlook for another strong run at Kentucky and his plans for 2011. Oh, the photo above is Carpenter with Butler Blue II (the Butler University mascot) at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis during a shoot for VERSUS, which will feature Carpenter during the broadcast Sept. 4 from Kentucky Speedway.

ED CARPENTER: “I was happy to be back with Panther Racing and Vision and Fuzzy’s (Vodka). It was a strange weekend. We didn’t get much practice, still had an OK qualifying run and had a great race car. We had an issue in pits with the fuel that took away a great result. It was disappointing, but the positive thing is that we were strong again. I’m expecting another good run in Kentucky this weekend.”

Q.  I know you’re running selected events. You ran at Indy in the 500, came back for Chicagoland and now have races at Kentucky and Homestead later this year. How has it been to sit and watch, although you’ve come to several events to support Panther Racing and Dan Wheldon?

ED CARPENTER: “It’s a lot harder to watch than it is to get back in the car and get back up to speed. I’ll say that. It’s not fun being on the sidelines. With this race being the 200th (IZOD IndyCar Series race), I’ve been reflecting on how old I’m getting. I remember I was part of the 100th IndyCar race, so this makes me feel like an old man. I’m happy to be about the 200th race.”

Q. That 200th race is at Kentucky Speedway where you finished second a year ago. How many times have you watched those last laps?

ED CARPENTER: “I watched the it the day or two after the race and I haven’t watched it again. There’s no need for me to go back. Obviously, it was a big point in my career and my best finish, but at the same time, I’m not trying to live in the past. I’m trying to live in the now. We just need to put ourselves in that position again.”

Q. I know you tested at Kentucky a few weeks ago. Has the track changed? Do you go back thinking this place owes me?

ED CARPENTER: “I didn’t think the track had changed much, maybe a little bumpier, but I thought it was pretty similar. I’m sure the track will be a little better this weekend. As far as unfinished business, the series is so competitive, it’s tough think that just because I was good there last year, that I’ll be good there this year. I think as a team, if we’re able to work hard and work well together and come up with a good car as we’ve done at Indianapolis and Chicago, I think we’ll be successful. We had a good test, but I’ve had good tests in the past and not been able to duplicate it for the race. I don’t want to be cocky and go into this thinking just because I ran second last year we’re going to be strong again. I’m going to take the same approach I take every weekend and hope it works, yet again.”

Q. Robin, a fan in Scotland who follows us on Twitter wants to know about next year: Is Vision coming back in 2011, are you looking elsewhere, or is it too early to ask?

ED CARPENTER: “Yes to all of that. We’d like to get Vision up and running full time again, but it’s too early to say if that is going to happen. We’re working on other things. Obviously I have a good relationship with Panther Racing, so I’m trying to see what options are available there. At the same time we’re focusing on these last two races and trying to maximize that to keep the sponsor happy. Next season is a long way out.”