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ECR Runs Experiments Monday in Indy 500 Practice

Topics: Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis 500

ECR Runs Experiments Monday in Indy 500 Practice

Tom Blattler
Ed Carpenter Racing
May 14, 2012

May 14th 2012 - INDIANAPOLIS – Ed Carpenter Racing spent Monday’s practice runs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as an experimental round with the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet Dallara machine.

The newly-formed team ran through a myriad of chassis settings with the new DW12 Dallara in the six-hour practice session at the legendary 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Owner/driver Ed Carpenter, the Kentucky winner last October, drove his team’s car to an early 216.511 mile per hour clocking just after the track opened at noon Monday.

After the initial shakedown, Carpenter and his squad attempted numerous suspension settings in the warmer conditions as a bright sun beat on the racing surface during the afternoon runs. Making adjustments in the pit lane and the garage area, the ECR crew worked steadily to record the good and bad readings of the new Dallara.

At the end of the day, Carpenter completed 28 laps Monday with the 216.511 m.p.h. best in the testing process. Rookie Josef Newgarden paced the day’s action with a 222.486 m.p.h.

Practice will continue Tuesday through Thursday before “Fast Friday” action when the IZOD IndyCar Series officials will increase the engine turbo boost leading into Saturday’s pole position time trials and the Fast Nine Shootout. The remaining 24 positions will be determined Sunday in qualifications runs.

“We made some big gains with the car Sunday, and we were pleased with our progress,” said Carpenter. “Today we tried many different things with the car, and it just didn’t work as well as Sunday. With the extra days of practice here at Indy, we do have the opportunity to attempt many different chassis settings. Our engineering staff has mapped out a variety of scenarios with this new car at the Speedway. I felt we went in the wrong direction today. So, luckily, the weather looks good for the remainder of the week and we can go back with the car similar to Sunday’s setup. We’ll work hard again tonight to get the car in the proper direction for Tuesday’s runs.”