IRL: Motegi: Patrick Carpentier practice three report

Third Practice Session for the Indy Japan 300

MONTREAL, APRIL 28, 2005 - THINGS DID NOT GO PATRICK CARPENTIER'S WAY DURING THE THIRD PRACTICE SESSION HELD TODAY AT TWIN RING MOTEGI IN JAPAN.

The Red Bull Cheever Racing driver finished 21st overall posting his best lap time around the 2.414-kilometre (1.5-mile) oval track in 27.5320 seconds for an average speed of 319.856 km/h. Following his first day in Japan, Carpentier complained that the rear of his car was sliding a little too much to his liking. It seems that the problem has not been solved yet. His teammate Alex Barron finished 17th overall, ahead of Carpentier.

Dario Franchitti topped the chart in the third session with a lap time of 26.6912 seconds. The Scot averaged 329.932 km/h. His Andretti Green Racing teammate, Dan Wheldon, finished second, only six hundredths of second from Franchitti. Third and fourth places were held by a pair of Penske drivers, Brazilian Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr. of the United States. South African Tomas Scheckter rounded out the top five.

DRIVERS WILL RETURN ON TRACK LATER TONIGHT AT 11:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME FOR THE SINGLE CAR QUALIFYING SESSION THAT WILL SET THE GRID FOR SATURDAY'S INDY JAPAN 300, ROUND 4 OF THE INDY CAR SERIES 2005. ANOTHER NEWS REPORT ON THE QUALIFYING SESSION WILL FOLLOW.

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