INDYCAR: Carpenter - "I don't think it was a setback"

Team co-owner driver Ed Carpenter insisted at the Verizon IndyCar Series Media Day that while his team has gone through significant changes, they haven't affected its basic plans or goals for 2016.

"Seems like big changes, but organizationally not huge internally," Carpenter said. "We had operated as Ed Carpenter Racing from 2012 through 2014, merged with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing to form CFH Racing. Then as we got into the off-season, towards the end of it, all sorts of things we don't need to get into related to different things, partnership changes, structure changes that really precipitated us to going back to Ed Carpenter Racing when everything shook out.

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"I don't think it was a setback. That's where I think there's some misconception. The announcement that you're changing names seems dramatic, like there's a whole lot going on. The reality is our off-season started after Sonoma was over. Our preparation for this year started. It's been continuous and ongoing and very productive.

"We changed names, but everything going on in the race shop – employees, preparation, plan – it's been ongoing. Changing logos around. Key positions, management, structure, for the most part it's the same.

"It's a different group of owners that we report to as management, the team. But I don't feel like it's a setback as far as getting ready for the season or changing our goals or changing our focus. That's been a continuation from the start of 2015 to now.

"The important thing to have everyone understand is that the plans that we have now are the same as what the plans were when we were CFH. We're running Josef (Newgarden) full time. I'm going to be running ovals. Hopefully we'll run the 20 car at a full-time level. We're not there yet, but we still have a little time to make it happen. That's the biggest thing."

Carpenter said the road and street course prospects for the No. 20 could – but not necessarily would – still include 2014 driver Luca Filippi.

"We're looking at all scenarios. I talk to Luca and his management team frequently. I wouldn't say that's off the table. It's trying to find the right deal and a deal that we all feel comfortable with. We'll see what happens."

Carpenter didn't discount the prospect of the team running a third car for the Indianapolis 500, but indicated it wasn't on the front burner, either.

"I try to just to stay focused on what I know what we can do, what we have the funding and budget to do, to do at a high level, to the standards we hold ourselves to," he said. "At this point we're planning on running two cars. Things can always change. But until they do change, I'm not really totally focusing on that.

"There's always conversations going around, different things. You take every phone call. Obviously I talk to [JR] Hildebrand a lot and would like to get him more ingrained in our team. Until things happen, we're focused on what we're going to be doing, which is running Josef for the full championship and running the 20 car on ovals."

Newgarden enjoyed a breakout 2015 campaign, including his first two career wins, but Carpenter said the young American's increasingly consistent form might have been the most promising step forward.

"As the season went on, he came into his own and was more consistent whether we were at a short oval, speedway, road course, street course," Carpenter noted. "He had speed and raced well everywhere. At the end of the season at Sonoma, he was one of seven guys that were still eligible for the title. That was really, I think, important for him to know that he can be in that discussion, be a part of that championship mix.

"He is one of the few guys in the series that has the versatility as a driver and the pace on all circuits to be able to contend for a championship That's what we're working towards with Josef. Hopefully a lot more wins, a lot more poles, have a consistent season. If all that goes well, we should be in the mix for another chance at a championship."

Carpenter said that while the unique challenge of both operating the team and serving as a driver has its challenges, he draws benefits from it as well.

"This will be the start of the fifth year of owning-driving combination. Four years is a long time, going into the fifth year. There are times when it would be nice just to be worried about driving. At the same time, the rewards you get from ownership and the organization and all the people we get to work with, it's a lot of fun when things go well.

"We're really dedicated to making our team successful long-term, sustainable, having good results on track and winning races. I'm enjoying it. I think you continue to learn. Each and every year you try to get better, analyze yourself, figure out what we can do to do a better job. 

Carpenter said that the IndyCar Series' return to Phoenix this year is a particularly exciting element for him.

"I grew up going to Phoenix pretty much every spring break through my youth, then when I was running midgets, Silver Crown, started racing there in '99. I was there for the last IndyCar race in 2005. I have a lot of fond memories.

"I haven't been back since they made some changes. We'll be there testing on Monday. I'm excited to get reacclimated with the track. It's a great place to race. I think it will be better now with the changes they made, with our cars relative to how they are compared to 2005."