Fansided

Interview: Ed Carpenter on his history with, future of Phoenix Raceway

By Brittany Frederick

May 21, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Ed Carpenter watches during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Ed Carpenter watches during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ed Carpenter’s history with Phoenix Raceway goes back decades. Ahead of Saturday’s Phoenix Grand Prix, the IndyCar star talked about the track’s future.

When the Verizon IndyCar Series comes to Phoenix this Saturday, it will be very familiar for Ed Carpenter. IndyCar’s only owner-driver has a lengthy history with Phoenix Raceway that goes back to the 1990s, and it remains a track that’s special to him.

It’s also a track that’s getting a facelift. The Phoenix Raceway Project is going to reinvigorate the venue with improved amenities for race fans, with work underway now for completion sometime next year.

FanSided connected with Ed Carpenter to talk about his history with the track, what he thinks of the renovation project, and how he’s building his own history as he’s just reached a milestone of his own in IndyCar.

“We used to all go out to Phoenix Raceway for the Indy car race in the early to mid-90s. That’s where I spent most of my spring break at that time in my life,” Ed recalled. “Then in 1999, I started racing the USAC series and participated in a couple of classics before the IndyCar race then.

“IndyCar was there in 2004 and 2005 before the series wasn’t racing there for a little while, and we’re obviously very happy to go back to the track,” he added. “Last year when the raceway brought the IndyCar Series back, it was a fun time for me. I was able to bring my kids out and go show them [around].”

Does he have a favorite memory from the many he’s made at Phoenix?

“I remember watching Mario Andretti there. He didn’t win but that was a pretty great performance that I watched,” he told us. “As far as my career, when I got into IndyCar my first full-time drive was with Eddie Cheever, and the place they tested me before they hired me was Phoenix. I had a good test there which helped me get the job.

“I’ve just always enjoyed the racetrack and the city, so I’m really happy that we’re racing there again and looking forward to April 29th.”

The Phoenix Raceway Project will include new grandstands, an updated and expanded Fan Midway, and upgrades on the suite level. Fans can get more information on the overhaul in the video above, but what’s most interesting is that it involves moving the track’s start-finish line. How does Ed think that may affect the racing?

“It’s unique,” he said. “I’ve never raced on a oval where the start-finish line was positioned kind of on a corner exit but I’ll give Phoenix Raceway credit for putting in a huge effort to look at what they could do to increase the fan experience and make the event better.

“I know they were kind of monitoring at all the events where passes were taking place and getting completed and started. They chose that location for the start/finish line specifically to see if it can help some of the races and finishes. They put a lot of research into it. You’ll find out in 2018 how it works.”

“I think it’s going to be all positive changes as we look ahead to 2018,” he added. “But more importantly in the short term I’m going to focus on having a good event in 2017 and hopefully leaving Phoenix with our first win of the season.”

The Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix is IndyCar’s first oval race of the season, which means that it will also be the first time Ed Carpenter is behind the wheel. Does he enjoy that he gets to start his 2017 campaign at a track that has personal significance to him?

“Yes. It was the same thing last year and it’s always been one of my favorite tracks,” he told us. “Having an oval back on the calendar before Indianapolis is a good thing too so I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”

His team Ed Carpenter Racing underwent its own kind of renovation in the offseason, with Josef Newgarden leaving for Team Penske and ECR promoting Indy 500 driver JR Hildebrand to replace him. But the personnel shift hasn’t changed what Ed expects from his organization.

“Expectations are always high,” he explained. “We’ve consistently won races over our history as a team. We try to get better each and every year and this year’s no different.

“Spencer [Pigot]’s showing good development in his second year in the series and having JR full-time back in the mix — between JR, myself and Spencer, we can all check off a win in the win column and work together to finish as high as we can, if not win an IndyCar championship.”

One of the things that Ed appreciates about owning his own team is the ability to give drivers like Newgarden, Hildebrand and Pigot the opportunities that they deserve.

“JR definitely deserves to be back full time. Josef last year was someone we helped develop and I spent a lot of time with,” he continued. “It’s fun to be able to be part of developing young American talent to keep that pipeline coming into the IndyCar series.”

The 2017 season is also Carpenter’s 15th season in IndyCar, which is impressive in and of itself. What does he think of reaching that milestone?

“it’s a good thing that I’m still doing it. You never want to get older,” he laughed. “It’s something I’m proud of. I’ve been able to sustain my career up to this point. Hopefully I have more years in front of me.”

Next: Josef Newgarden wins IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama

Fans can watch Carpenter on track at Phoenix Raceway in the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix this Saturday, April 29. Tickets for the race and further information about the Phoenix Raceway Project are both available at the venue’s website.