ECR/Fuzzy's Vodka Team Recharged For Upcoming Races, Ed Ready for Tough Mid-Ohio Course

ECR/Fuzzy's Vodka Team Recharged For Upcoming Races, Ed Ready for Tough Mid-Ohio Course

Topics: Ed Carpenter, Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

ECR/Fuzzy's Vodka Team Recharged For Upcoming Races, Ed Ready for Tough Mid-Ohio Course

Tom Blattler
Ed Carpenter Racing
July 30, 2013

Tough Mid-Ohio Circuit gives drivers a physical beating.

July 30th 2013 - LEXINGTON, Ohio – Ed Carpenter Racing has recharged its batteries for the remainder of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series.

The small but experienced Indianapolis-based contingent was in need of a break at the team headquarters following ten on-track weekends in an 11-week streak. The ECR/Fuzzy’s Vodka squad actually had a chance to repaint its two Dallara DW12 chassis and install new suspension pieces that had been ready for replacement at the shop.

But now it is time to return to action for the team owner/driver Ed Carpenter and the popular No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet with the tough Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next on the schedule. The 200-mile IndyCar Series event set for the always-demanding 2.258-mile, 13-turn natural terrain circuit in the middle of the state this Sunday starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

"We have had a good opportunity to go through all of our equipment since the last races at Toronto,” said Carpenter, the only team owner/driver in the IndyCar Series. "That three-month stretch was pretty tough on all of the teams, especially if you had some repairs. We have a very experienced crew and they have been through these things before. So we feel good about regrouping for the last six races of the season.”

Carpenter, his team manager Tim Broyles and crew chief Bret Schmitt have taken on some additional roles within Ed Carpenter Racing with the departure of general manager Derrick Walker to the presidency of INDYCAR competition and operations in late May. But the organization has been operating smoothly despite the busy schedule in June and July.

"I’m very proud of how the team has worked together after Derrick left,” said Carpenter, the only former USAC midget, sprint car and Silver Crown star in the current IndyCar Series lineup. Several of the guys took some of Derrick’s responsibilities as did I. And we are a smaller team and our crew guys do a variety of things for the team. Now we are prepared for the last part of the 2013 schedule.”

Broyles explains that the team was able to refresh all of the team’s equipment in the two-week break between the Toronto and Mid-Ohio rounds.

"The crew had some time off and we were able to do a lot of work on the cars and the equipment,” said Broyles. "We completely rebuilt the cars from the ground up and crack-checked all of the suspension and freshened up our pit equipment too. We were not neglecting the regular servicing of the car but it was time to rebuild things with all of the races and tests right in a row. So, this was a great time to get the team ready for the final six races.”

Carpenter and his ECR/Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevy will take a pounding this weekend at Mid-Ohio at the most demanding track on the 16-track circuit. The picturesque permanent track north of Columbus is never easy for the IndyCar drivers with the high-speed, off-camber corners and the usually high air temperatures. And the Butler University grad has been training hard at St. Vincent Sports Performance in preparation of the track’s tough layout.

"Mid-Ohio is a fast track and a fun challenge for a driver,” said Carpenter. "But it is very physical. Each track is a little different, but Mid-Ohio is always one of the toughest. But if you go to Milwaukee and Iowa, those ovals are very physically challenging too. A place like Indy is very mentally tasking. Mid-Ohio is much more physically tasking. I know our crew is ready for it too.”

The Indy 500 pole sitter knows what to expect when practice runs begin at 11 a.m. EDT Friday at Mid-Ohio.