Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LV’s Carpentier seeks repeat of ‘96 Montreal win

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002 | 9:28 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

One of the highlights of Patrick Carpentier's racing career came in 1996 -- the year before his rookie season in CART -- when the Quebec native won a Toyota Atlantic race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Carpentier, a Las Vegas resident, would like nothing more than to repeat that moment when the CART FedEx Championship makes its inaugural visit to the 2.474-mile road course for Sunday's Molson Indy Montreal.

"From the time that I got into the CART series, six years ago, I've often thought how great it would be to have a race in Montreal, the way it was when I was competing in the Atlantic series," Carpentier said. "That day has finally arrived and it's such a fantastic feeling to be a part of some history, with the first-ever Molson Indy Montreal.

"I know that it's going to be a very emotional race week, and I'm looking forward to participating in activities with the fans. But it's going to be all business once I'm in the car, and I'm going to treat it as if I was racing on any track in the series. I'm not going to put any additional pressure on myself. If you start doing something like that, it usually works against you."

Carpentier, who is tied for second in the championship, is one of three Canadian CART drivers now living in Las Vegas. Like Carpentier, Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy also have been eyeing this race since the beginning of the season.

"Whenever you can return home for a race on a track that's only a few miles from the place you grew up, it's something very special," said Tagliani, who also is a Quebec native. "From the time that the CART series announced that it was adding another Canadian race with Molson Indy Montreal, the interest and the excitement have been building, and now the big moment is here."

Tracy, who is from the Toronto area, echoed Tagliani's sentiments.

"I'm really excited to race again in Montreal," Tracy said. "Every time we come up to Canada, the atmosphere is incredible. I had some good luck up there, too. I really want to win there because I have already won the other two Canadian races (Vancouver and Toronto) and I want to have a win at every track we race at in my home country.

"The last time I raced in Montreal was a long time ago. It was 1987 and I was running in a support race during the Canadian Grand Prix. It was a bittersweet weekend because I ran really well and even won the race, but I was disqualified after the checkered flag for rough driving. I guess it's funny how some things never change."

"It should be an exciting weekend at Montreal," Vasser said. "I think all of the drivers are (eager) to drive at Montreal. The Canadian drivers will have a lot of support and I hope some of the American fans will be cheering for us, too."

Priestley underwent surgery Monday to repair fractures in his nose and the orbital bones of his face suffered in an IPS practice crash on Aug. 11 at Kentucky Speedway. Priestley previously had surgery to repair fractures in his back and feet.

Bernie Hallisky, the left-rear tire changer for Kelley Racing and Indy Racing League driver Tony Renna, underwent additional surgery Tuesday at Methodist Hospital for a broken pelvis.

Hallisky suffered a compound fracture of his right leg, multiple fractures in his pelvis and a left hip fracture when he was struck by Renna's car on pit road during the IRL race at Kentucky Speedway on Aug. 11.