RM says that PC to the IRL is a done deal

[Dov]

Thanks to slashman from CCF:

Just heard on SpeedTV that Patrick is gone to the dark side!! He told Robin Miller that he has gone to where the money is!

[Brian W Keske]

I saw the show between the Petit telecast, It's true.

'Where the money is', yes. If he stayed in OWRS he would have had to pay for his ride. That is what he told Robin. He did say he would miss the series, though I don't think he wants to pay to remain. Obviously.

[Dov]

What ever happened to the old days when drivers had to go out everyday and knock on door after door after door to find sponsors?! :confused:

[Brian W Keske]

1) What happened to the days when the team owners had the sponsors and hired the drivers who would win races for them, thus keep sponsors happy?

2) How many ride buyers are in OWRS? How many are in the IRL?

3) Patrick's agent is the promotor of the Montreal CCWS race right? You may want to ask him why Patrick does not have the sponsor.

[sgjb]

Patrick has been a great ambassador and still would have been if he could have secured a ride in Champcar. I know he exhausted all efforts to stay in Champcar and I wish him all the best and totally understand his reasoning. Why stay around and be treated as he was at the beginning of this season.

I can only hope the Champcar smartens up when it comes to keeping it's stars, because soon it will only be a series of pay drivers and it is perilously close now. Sad!

[Brian W Keske]

Yup. Lavin has a ride (Corona) and is currently in 14th place in the standings. Carp and Tracy are 3rd and 4th, one point apart, have the same 'sponsor', and Forsythe has to cut one? I wonder who would stay if Marlboro, Red Bull, or Target were the team sponsor?....as example.

[Kicking-back]

Good news for Patrick Carpentier - securing a ride which will pay him what he's worth.

There's no point in someone of his calibre being reduced to pay driver status.

[BootsOntheSide]

I'm glad the humiliation and indignity of this season won't be repeated for Pat. If he's joined a competitive IRl team he should win races and possibly challenge for the title.

We don't need this 'dark side' talk. People who use it always show themselves up as being quite petty and narrow-minded.

[MLM]

Here, here Boots (and K-b and Brian)!
PC's a good guy and a good driver. I wish him "bonne chance"

[Dov]

Boots wrote:

We don't need this 'dark side' talk.

What 'dark side' talk :confused:

[Brian W Keske]

Dov, you copied the post by 'slashman' with that referance, perhaps you can enlighten us.

[Muzza]

Patrick is a good driver and, particularly, one of the nicest, most friendly and no-BS persons I have ever met at a racing paddock. A wonderful guy who always attended my requests and who I never saw saying no to a fan.I am sad to see him leaving Champ Cars, and I wish him all the best in his next endeavours. May he have a long and successful career, wherever he races.

Patrick, tout de bon et bonne chance!

All the very best,


Muzza

[rasgueado]

I agree with all of you. Pat is my favorite driver and I will be sorry to see him go. I hate to say it but now I'm going to follow the IRL more closely than I have because he's making the switch and
that they finally going to have some road racing. Does any one know where he's going ?

[Brian W Keske]

It is strongly suggested that Cheever will be the team. Carp would not tell Robin.

Robin also 'suggested' it *could* be Penske or Ganassi.

Obviously, no official announcement will be made until the end of the CCWS season.

[Brian W Keske]

Robin is now saying it is Cheever with a two year deal.

Miller Link

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Brian W Keske
Robin is now saying it is Cheever with a two year deal.

Miller Link

Hm, I would have rather seen him drive for another outfit, because unless Cheever either switches to a different engine supplier or manages to take the Chevy engine to new heights, I'm afraid Carpentier might have a hard time featuring at the front in 2005.

Edit: That's assuming he indeed does end up with Cheever, of course.

[Dov]

Originally posted by Brian W Keske
Dov, you copied the post by 'slashman' with that referance, perhaps you can enlighten us.

Yes, I did copy 'slashmans' post which included the words 'dark side' in it, however, I don't see what the big deal is?! Like me, 'slashman' chooses to support ChampCar and only CC. Is that okay with you & Boots or must I support the Irl as well before I'm allowed to post on the CC forum here at 10tenths???

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Dov
Yes, I did copy 'slashmans' post which included the words 'dark side' in it, however, I don't see what the big deal is?! Like me, 'slashman' chooses to support ChampCar and only CC. Is that okay with you & Boots or must I support the Irl as well before I'm allowed to post on the CC forum here at 10tenths???

I think the point might be that you don't have to be disrespectful just because you are a Champ Car diehard.

I mean, I can't stand Pepsi (always been partial to Coca-Cola myself), but you don't see me standing at the street corner shouting out how bad Pepsi is, calling it names and such.

See what I'm getting at?

[Dov]

As long as the Irl's existence hurts the CCWS then I'll be around to badmouth them!!!

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Dov
As long as the Irl's existence hurts the CCWS then I'll be around to badmouth them!!!

Ok.

[codename_47]

Goodbye Patrick, if this is true, then good luck to you, won't be bothering to catch you again, but you've followed the $$$, which is your choice. Just try to show a bit of class and don't be quoted in 6 months time badmouthing the series, like seems to be mandatory for any crossovers, and all will be well with the world!

(And I like Pepsi more.....not that there's much difference Must be a blue thing! )

[Brian W Keske]

Followed the money? He would have had to paid to stay in CCWS next year out of his own pocket. Do you pay your boss for the opportunity to work for him?

This wasn't a 'bidding war', there was no money in Champ Car to pay the current third place driver of the series.

What is wrong with that picture?

[Omega99]

Please don't go down this road agian, guys. It's a tired waste of everyone's time.

[Mosport67]

Hard to be upset with Pat for this. He expects (and rightly so) to be paid to drive. No one in OWRS was prepared to do so although at one point his boss was prepared to pay him not to drive this year.

The OWRS brass missed the boat here. Another popular defection and a Canadian as well. Lots of Canadians will now how a reason to watch IRL races and even consider going.

Pat has always been a true gentleman to deal. We wish him the best of luck. Hopefully a future Indy winner (although the Cheever team doesn't really make me happy).

[sgjb]

Originally posted by Dov
As long as the Irl's existence hurts the CCWS then I'll be around to badmouth them!!!

The sad part of this whole story is the IRL is only conducting good business, it is Champcar that has hurt themselves by doing things, like letting great people get away. I do not like the IRL but I don't blame them for this, I hold Gerry Forsythe more accountable than them. His bad treatment of Patrick at the start of the year is well remembered by Patrick as well.

If they keep running the cars with only pay drivers the series will not survive. It is their decision and only theirs that has chosen not to pay Patrick and keep by far the most personable driver in the series. They must believe we would rather see Guy Smith over Patrick!!?