IndyCar: Ed Carpenter comments about fielding Danica Patrick for Indianapolis 500

Ed Carpenter Racing IndyCar team owner Ed Carpenter has commented about fielding Danica Patrick for this year’s Indianapolis 500.

After it was confirmed that 35-year-old Danica Patrick had finally landed a ride for this year’s Indianapolis 500 following her announcement that she planned to drive in the race to wrap up her IndyCar career and professional racing career last November, she accidentally let it slip that she would be driving for Ed Carpenter Racing in the race.

Patrick had initially planned on having a formal unveiling of her Indianapolis 500 team given the magnitude of the event since she has not driven in the Indianapolis 500 or IndyCar since the 2011 season and this year’s running of the race is set to be the final race of her professional racing career.

Publicly announcing her team for the race was not a priority for her at this point, however. But now there is really no need for this announcement at all, as she accidentally leaked the details of her Indianapolis 500 deal on Wednesday.

More from IndyCar

When she was asked about her Indianapolis 500 prospects at the Daytona 500 Media Day, as she is also set to drive in this Sunday’s 60th annual Daytona 500 as the driver of the #7 Chevrolet for Premium Motorsports after securing that ride last month, she accidentally revealed that Ed Carpenter Racing is set to be her team for the race.

Here is what she said, according to Motorsport.com.

"“Actually I didn’t have time to meet up with Ed and the people that … Oh, did I say that out loud? I’ve never done that in my career.”"

With the word now out, Ed Carpenter Racing team owner Ed Carpenter commented on having Patrick drive for his IndyCar team in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

Here is what Carpenter had to say about signing Patrick for the race, according to Motorsport.com.

"“We had a conversation, not directly but through Mark Miles [CEO of Hulman & Company, IndyCar’s parent company] some time ago. And we didn’t feel able to engage at that time because we hadn’t sorted out who would be our #20 car’s road course driver, once we’d transferred Spencer [Pigot] to full-time in the #21.“But once we locked in Jordan [King, IndyCar rookie] as my partner in the #20 for the road courses, I got back to Danica’s management team and said, ‘OK, we’re interested.’ Then ultimately we had conversations with Danica herself, and that’s what pushed things over the top.”“I think all parties are excited about it and it’s going to be a lot of fun, and hopefully it will bring a lot of success. Clearly Danica is not coming back to Indy as just a participant. She has the same goals that we do as a team, and that’s to be in the best position possible to win the race."

You can read more of what Carpenter had to say here.

Next: Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time

How will Danica Patrick perform as the driver of a Chevrolet-powered car for Ed Carpenter Racing in the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 this May? Tune in to ABC at 11:00 am ET on Sunday, May 27th to find. out. Also be sure not miss the 60th annual Daytona 500, which marks the first race of the “Danica Double”. That race is set to be broadcast live on FOX at 2:00 pm ET this Sunday, February 18th.