Ed Carpenter will drive No. 20 car as Tony George’s team returns
Vision Racing will be back in action for the Indianapolis 500, as the former full-time squad is teaming up with two-time IRL champions Panther Racing to field a car for Ed Carpenter. It’ll be Vision’s first IZOD IndyCar Series event after suspending full-time operations during the offseason over a lack of sponsorship funding.
The partnership brings together two operations that are known for their oval prowess. Panther has grabbed two straight runner-up results at the Brickyard with Vitor Meira in 2008 and last year with former Indy champ Dan Wheldon, while Vision and Carpenter’s speedway game was solid in 2009 with a top finish of second place at Kentucky Speedway. Carpenter finished eighth last year at the “500.”
“I am very excited not only to be returning to the Indianapolis 500, but also working with Panther Racing,” said Carpenter. “John Barnes has been a family friend for a long time, and I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I feel that with my experience, Vision Racing’s experience, and Panther Racing’s experience and success at Indianapolis, that we will be a very competitive duo. It has been very hard watching from the sidelines so far this season, and I am very motivated to compete for my first win.”
Panther team owner John Barnes said that out of all the opportunities for the month of May, teaming up with Vision was one option that simply made sense.
“I feel that Ed is a threat to win at any race he runs, and he’s proved that to [the IRL] in the last two or three years,” he said. “His addition to the National Guard team along with Dan Wheldon is going to make our entire team stronger. I honestly hope this isn’t a one-and-done deal, and we very much look forward to the opportunity of expanding this and running more IZOD IndyCar Series races together this season.”
That possibility coming to reality would be great news for Vision fans, who have tried to help the team gain sponsorship by sending in letters of support — which, according to the team, have been used to help pitch prospective backers. The campaign was initiated by Vision several months ago.
As for Vision owner and former IRL CEO Tony George, he’s also pleased about the partnership.
“This collaboration with Panther Racing will allow two teams that want nothing else but to compete and strive for success in the upcoming Indianapolis 500 the opportunity do so to the best of their abilities,” he said. “With this partnership between teams and drivers, we will also be able to maximize the potential of both parties and field what I am sure will be a very formidable two-car effort.
“There are close personal and professional relationships within our two organizations that should allow us to put forth a cohesive effort we will all be proud of and have high expectations for achieving results.”
