Veteran NTT INDYCAR SERIES engineer Eric Cowden has joined Ed Carpenter Racing team owner Ed Carpenter confirmed during a brief interview with NBC Sports on Race Day morning at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Cowden has incredible experience in INDYCAR, having worked with Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti Global.
Carpenter was asked about his new driver, rookie Christian Rasmussen, who joins Rinus VeeKay this season, and he said that while it has been seen by the times on track so far this weekend, the team has been incredibly impressed with their new driver and how he has adapted to competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Rasmussen will make his NTT INDYCAR SERIES race debut this afternoon from 21st place, and speaking following the action on Saturday, he commented saying:
I’m happy with the progress we’re making over the weekend. There are a lot of firsts and it’s no easy task to step up into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES! First time with the green Firestone tires, it just takes some learning. Rinus (VeeKay) did an amazing job in qualifying, into the Fast 12 and almost the Fast 6! We have a good car and should be able to move forward in the race tomorrow. I’m just excited for my first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race! It’s something I’ve been working towards for many years now and it’s going to be very cool!”
Rasmussen’s teammate Rinus VeeKay has been extremely quick this weekend and will start the race from seventh place and he feels that the team can win from inside the top ten.
We missed it by such a small margin! There’s always twelve-thousands more in there, but it was a good run and I’m pretty happy with it! We were so close to making it through. I am happy with qualifying and I really loved the balance of the car. Pretty much nailed it for the green Firestone tire run! Team Chevy gave me some great power, over the winter they worked hard and we can tell! Wish we were starting just a bit higher, but this is a position we can challenge for the win from!”