Ed Carpenter, the team owner of ECR, says it has been an up-and-down weekend for the team here at Barber Motorsports Park. Speaking to Paddock Eye on Race Day morning, Carpenter said the team is not where they want to be for the race. Alexander Rossi starts the event in 15th place, while Christian Rasmussen starts the race in 17th place.
Speaking to us about Alexander Rossi’s arrival from Arrow McLaren over the off-season, Carpenter told Paddock Eye that the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner brings a fresh perspective to the team, having previously been with Andretti Global and Arrow McLaren. Carpenter says that he hasn’t seen the sort of knowledge that Rossi has since Ryan Hunter-Reay drove for ECR for a handful of races several years ago.
Regarding Christian Rasmussen, driver of the No.21 Splenda Chevrolet, Carpenter says that the Danish driver continues to improve from where he was in 2024, his first season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Ed Carpenter Racing has brought in several new partners this season, including Java House and Splenda. Thanks to the new partnership with Ted Gelov, the founder and CEO of Heartland Food Products Group, Carpenter says that the team will have fun activations over the coming races that they are really excited about and looking forward to.
Speaking to Paddock Eye about the Indianapolis 500 and the secret behind the team’s success at the Greatest Spectacle In Racing, Carpenter says it is all down to preparation and that there has been a lot of continuity within the team. Carpenter says that the team had a strong open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April, and he hopes that carries into qualifying for the race, which takes place on Sunday, May 25.
