Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier ( born August 13, 1971 in LaSalle, Quebec ) is a Canadian racing driver.
Carpentier began his formula racing career in 1988 after several years in karting in the Canadian Formula 2000. According to seventh place in his debut season in 1989, he won the championship title in this series. Once he was in the Pro Formula launched in 2000, 1990, 1992, he was champion of the Canadian Atlantic series. In addition, Carpentier started for the first time in Formula Atlantic, in which he was active until 1996. After he won his first race in 1994, he was in 1996 with nine wins in twelve races champion in Formula Atlantic. In addition, he started in 1994 at two races in the Indy Lights.
In 1997, Carpentier in the CART to Bettenhausen Motorsports and was treated with a podium placing 17th in the overall standings. In addition, Carpentier was the best rookie this season. In 1998, Carpentier to Forsythe Racing and denied all other races in the CART series for this team. Carpentier could not keep up with his team-mate and compatriot Greg Moore and finished at the end of the season 19th overall. 1999 Carpentier got with Tony Kanaan another teammate and was in contrast to his team-mates to win a race. With a second place as best result, he finished the season 13th overall. The season was overshadowed by a fatal accident of his teammates Moore at the last race of the season.
2000 denied the Canadians his fourth season in the CART series and got with Alex Tagliani a new teammates. With two podium finishes, he reached number eleven overall. 2001 Carpentier won his first race in Michigan, reaching the end of the season in tenth place for the first time a ranking among the top ten drivers. 2002 Carpentier managed the leap into the top tier of the field. With two wins he finished third behind Cristiano da Matta and Bruno Junqueira. After he had three seasons better than his teammate Tagliani, he received in 2003 with Paul Tracy a new teammates and could not keep up with his compatriot: While dominant Tracy won the championship title, Carpentier finished fifth in the overall standings. 2004 denied the Canadians his last season in the now renamed the Champ Car series. Carpentier once again showed his abilities and finished at the end of the season with a win third place overall and was thus better than his teammate Tracy, who was fourth only.
2005 Carpentier moved to the IndyCar Series for Cheever Racing and could not match his success in the CART series. Without a victory, he finished the season in tenth place in the overall standings and thus was better than his team -mate Alex Barron. After a short trip to the 2005/2006 A1GP season Carpentier finished his career in Formula racing.
After he had taken part in a race in the Canadian touring car series CASCAR 2006, it starts in the NASCAR series in which he has not won a race since 2007.