Rookies Shine

JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

Rookies Shine
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.

Rookie drivers put on an impressive show

Carpentier [Alumax Reynard Mercedes Goodyear] posted the second fastest time of the morning session with a 19.147, just .264 seconds behind the leading score of Team Penske Marlboro Mercedes driver Paul Tracy.
Born in Villes Lasalle, Quebec, Canada, Carpentier began his career in 1984 at the age of 12, racing go-carts in Canada. He showed his talent quickly by winning the Canadian 4-Sroke Kart championship after only one year of competition. In '88 he won the Spenard/David School championship in Formula 2000, then went on to run a limited schedule in Formula 2000 in 1990 with a pair of 4th place finishes. In 1992 he captured the Canadian Player’s Ltd. Atlantic championship, a contest within the overall series for Canadian drivers. Carpentier went on to race in IndyLights and in the Toyota Atlantic series, and culminated his "Jr." career by winning the Toyota Atlantics championship in '96. In doing so, he established series single-season records for most points (239), consecutive wins [8], poles [8] and earnings [$226,500]. He also tied the series single-season mark for victories [9] and led a series-high 302 laps. He was the only driver to complete every lap of the season. Patrick now resides in Indianapolis, IN.
Franchetti [Mobil1 Reynard Mercedes Firestone] posted the eighth fastest time of the morning session with a 19.637, a respectable .303 seconds off the leading pace.
With three-quarters Italian lineage, Franchetti was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in '73. He, too, experienced early success by capturing the 1984 Scottish Scotish Junior Kart Championship in his first year of competition at the age of 11. He continued his Karting career for six more years, and during this period won back-to-back British Junior Kart championships in 1985 and 1986. He was a World Kart finalist in '87 and was the Scottish Kart champion in '88. In his seven-year karting career, he captured more than 100 victories and 20 championships.
Dario continued driving with success in several European Formula series, tutored under the legendary Jackie Stewart in the British Formula Vauxall Lotus when he joined Paul Stewart Racing in 1992. He culminated his preparation for the PPG CART Word Series in 1996 by finishing fourth in the FIA International Touring Car Championship driving for Mercedes. The season was highlighted by a victory and six other podium finishes. He, too, plans to live in Indianapolis during the racing season to be close to the team shop.
The two rookies stand first and second in the quest for rookie of the year honors. Franchetti leads with 5 points, and is trailed by Carpentier with 4 points. The only other rookie to score points this season is Richie Hearn, with 2 points.


		JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Rookies Shine ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Rookie drivers put on an impressive show Carpentier [Alumax Reynard Mercedes Goodyear] posted the second fastest time of the morning session with a 19.147, just .264 seconds behind the leading score of Team Penske Marlboro Mercedes driver Paul Tracy. Born in Villes Lasalle, Quebec, Canada, Carpentier began his career in 1984 at the age of 12, racing go-carts in Canada. He showed his talent quickly by winning the Canadian 4-Sroke Kart championship after only one year of competition. In '88 he won the Spenard/David School championship in Formula 2000, then went on to run a limited schedule in Formula 2000 in 1990 with a pair of 4th place finishes. In 1992 he captured the Canadian Player’s Ltd. Atlantic championship, a contest within the overall series for Canadian drivers. Carpentier went on to race in IndyLights and in the Toyota Atlantic series, and culminated his "Jr." career by winning the Toyota Atlantics championship in '96. In doing so, he established series single-season records for most points (239), consecutive wins [8], poles [8] and earnings [$226,500]. He also tied the series single-season mark for victories [9] and led a series-high 302 laps. He was the only driver to complete every lap of the season. Patrick now resides in Indianapolis, IN. Franchetti [Mobil1 Reynard Mercedes Firestone] posted the eighth fastest time of the morning session with a 19.637, a respectable .303 seconds off the leading pace. With three-quarters Italian lineage, Franchetti was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in '73. He, too, experienced early success by capturing the 1984 Scottish Scotish Junior Kart Championship in his first year of competition at the age of 11. He continued his Karting career for six more years, and during this period won back-to-back British Junior Kart championships in 1985 and 1986. He was a World Kart finalist in '87 and was the Scottish Kart champion in '88. In his seven-year karting career, he captured more than 100 victories and 20 championships. Dario continued driving with success in several European Formula series, tutored under the legendary Jackie Stewart in the British Formula Vauxall Lotus when he joined Paul Stewart Racing in 1992. He culminated his preparation for the PPG CART Word Series in 1996 by finishing fourth in the FIA International Touring Car Championship driving for Mercedes. The season was highlighted by a victory and six other podium finishes. He, too, plans to live in Indianapolis during the racing season to be close to the team shop. The two rookies stand first and second in the quest for rookie of the year honors. Franchetti leads with 5 points, and is trailed by Carpentier with 4 points. The only other rookie to score points this season is Richie Hearn, with 2 points.