LV’s Carpentier OK after crash

Monday, Sept. 11, 2000 | 10:21 a.m.

Las Vegas resident Patrick Carpentier shook off the effects of a near-catastrophic accident two days earlier and posted a ninth-place finish Sunday in the CART Honda Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Carpentier received a scare on Friday when his open-cockpit Champ Car flipped over a wall and landed upside down during a practice session, leaving the 29-year-old with only minor bumps and bruises.

The accident occurred when Carpentier got his left wheels into the dirt off the racing surface as he began to brake entering turn four -- a 90-degree right-hand turn.

Carpentier tried to correct the car but it slid sideways through the turn and back into the dirt. The car skidded backward, slammed about halfway up a tire barrier and flipped front-end first into the air, somersaulting over a concrete wall.

Carpentier was able to partially crawl out from under the car before track workers arrived on the scene. He was cleared to drive by CART officials after a brief stop in the medical care center.

"I feel a little sore in the neck, and when I landed it stretched my back, but other than that I'm fine," Carpentier said of the accident.

"I was coming down into corner four looking for a good line, and I saw Kenny Brack on the inside. I went on the outside of the straight, but I guess I must have put two wheels off (the track). Then the car went backwards. After that, the first thing I remember is when it landed.

"It was quite a shock, but at that point I didn't know I was over the fence. I managed to partially pull myself from underneath the car and the safety crew did the rest."

Carpentier went on to qualify 18th for Sunday's race and made one of the biggest charges in the race to finish ninth.

"It was a pretty good race, but I'm especially happy to end the day with the four wheels on the ground, with the sun shining on top of the car, not on the undertray," Carpentier said.

"Team Player's had a good race strategy and did a great job during the pit stops, enabling me to gain several positions."