Carpentier comments on qualifying changes

No. 10 Valvoline Dodge driver Patrick Carpentier said he supports NASCAR's decision, announced Monday, allowing all driver's outside the top 35 in points to qualify at the end of the qualifying session. The Quebec native and open wheel veteran embarks on his rookie season in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing in Daytona next month.

Carpentier's Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge is outside the top-35 in owner points so he is not eligible for a provisional in the first five races of 2008. Last year, drivers outside the top 35 made qualifying attempts throughout the qualifying session based on a random draw. Sometimes favorable track conditions played a role in determining who started and who didn't.

Carpentier on the new rule:

"I think letting all of us outside the top 35 go out at the end of the session helps even out the playing field. The guys in the top 35 are qualifying to determine where they start. Guys like me are qualifying to determine if they start. Trust me, our Valvoline team is really focusing on making these races. Before we can race we have to qualify. Now we know we aren't going to miss or make the show because of track temperatures or where we draw in the qualifying order. We are all going out when the track is about the same. NASCAR is trying to make things as fair as it can, and that's something I am always going to support."

-credit: gem