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Panther Racing announced its partnership with Vision Racing and as a result Ed Carpenter will be in the No. 20 Dallara Honda cockpit for the race paired with full-time Panther driver Dan Wheldon, pilot of the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing entry.
John Barnes, CEO and co-owner of Panther Racing and for more than 20 years a good friend with Vision team owner Tony George, announced:
"We looked at a lot of opportunities for the Month of May, and as strong as Vision Racing has run the last few years, we felt like partnering with them made a lot of sense for us. I feel that Ed (Carpenter) is a threat to win at any race he runs, and he’s proved that to this league in the last two or three years. 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."
The partnership is even more special for Barnes, who has been friends with Vision team owner Tony George for over 20 years.
On the other hand, Vision owner Tony George, ex Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO, and founder of IRL, announced:
"I am very pleased that we have this opportunity to partner with an excellent organization. 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. 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."
Six-year IndyCar Series veteran Ed Carpenter will make a return behind the wheel of the No. 20 that he has driven since Vision Racing’s inception in 2005. The 29-year-old Indianapolis resident finished the 2009 season by earning his career best finish of second, matched his career best start of fourth, led 35 laps and drove to six top-ten finishes. Ed Carpenter also finished fifth and eighth in the last two runnings of the Indianapolis 500, explained.
"I am very excited not only to be returning to the Indianapolis 500, but also working with Panther Racing. John Barnes has been a family friend for a long time, and I 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."
