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Carpenter, O'Rouke Take 7th in 2012 Robo Pong 200

Topics: Ed Carpenter, Nathan O’Rourke, Robo Pong 200

Carpenter, O'Rouke Take 7th in 2012 Robo Pong 200

Tom Blattler
Ed Carpenter Racing
October 15, 2012

Carpenter, O'Rourke Take 7th at 2012 Robo Pong 200

October 15th 2012 - NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- Ed Carpenter and his driving teammate Nathan O’Rourke came from their 31st starting position Sunday at the New Castle Motorsports Park to finish seventh in the ninth annual Robo Pong 200 karting classic.

Driving a new Arrow chassis, the two racers battled through a highly-competitive field and a short rainstorm at the one-mile karting facility east of Indianapolis in an effort to repeat their 2009 Robo Pong 200 title with an impressive drive in the unusual conditions.

“We didn’t qualify well on Saturday as we were working with the new chassis throughout the weekend,” said Carpenter, the season finale winner in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series at Fontana, Calif., last month. “So it was a challenge to get through the field and race with the leaders. Plus the rain hit the track in the middle of the race and that caused a lot of confusion. It’s always fun to race with Nate.

But we had a long way to go to get towards the front Sunday.” Sam Beasley and Jacob Donald won the $10,000 first prize Sunday as the pair defeated Jimmy Simpson and Robbie Seward by 30 seconds at the checkered flag.

In addition to Carpenter, IndyCar Series drivers Josef Newgarden and Jay Howard competed in the 200-lap feature.