rpm.espn.com: Comments on CART drivers

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Monday, December 16
Updated: December 31, 11:32 AM ET

Comments on CART drivers
ESPN.com

We are spotlighting CART drivers Joel Camathias and Patrick Carpentier. Here are your thoughts on Carpentier's '02 campaign and both drivers' prospects for next season:

Joel Camathias
Camathias is very luck to get this big-time ride. There are many young drivers out there with better resumes than his; so he will be under a lot of pressure from sponsor and team to learn and perform.

Philip Degner
Baltimore. Md.

Many questions are raised by Joel Camathias being selected for a ride in Champ cars. Even with their recent horsepower restrictions they are still fast, dangerous machines. Is Joel really the best driver looking to get in CART? He must have brought a ton of money over with him in order to get this ride since his career highlight is a third-place finish in the Euro Open Telefonica Championship (whatever that is). My prediction is this, race fans -- don't sit too close to the fence ... there are going to be a lot of parts in the air.

Tyler Schmitt
Austin, Texas

Unfortunately, I have to say that Camathias is going to achieve absolutely nothing in the 03 CART series. He's a guy who depends on sponsorship money to get a seat. You look at his home page you see that these sponsors are all small firms so Coyne must be in dire straits to commit to Camathias. If you look at his results during his career he achieved absolutely nothing. This is no driver who does anything for CART, he only makes up the numbers. It's a shame that Coyne doesn't go for some good Atlantic drivers, or some talented Europeans. Drivers like Bourdais, Enge and Pantano. Those are real talents. So Camathias and Roberto Gonzalez, who will drive for Walker, stop wasting our time and don't come over to CART.

Luc Wijnans
The Netherlands

Knowing Dale for many years and his eye for young talent, you will see this youngster shine with a little seat time! Dale has a knack for making rookies go fast on ovals. Watch him turn some heads.

Paul Ilg
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Joel who?

Michael McGill
San Diego, Calif.

Patrick Carpentier
I was so happy to see Patrick Carpentier do well last season! I was also SO HAPPY when I heard that he was staying in CART. I'm really looking forward to watching how he does next season. It's great that he's staying with Gerald Forsythe's team. It will be fun to see how he and Paul Tracy get along next year, too.

Natalie Krause
Indianapolis

I think Patrick is finally hitting his stride. He's a late bloomer but one who is blooming nicely. I look for him to continue his blooming in 2003. He's a good, smart driver and one heck of a nice guy -- this is one person I have always wished would do well (Atlantics and CART).

Martha Meacham
Cincinnati, Ohio

I think Patrick will have a great year. With PT as a teammate and a Lola chassis there is no stopping him now. I also think since this is the last year with Player's as a sponsor, there will be added incentive to win the championship

John Jarego
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sure. Pat can win the championship. Who else is left that has any experience? Junqueira? Nah. 2003 will be his rookie season with NHR. Carpentier is a shoo-in, unless of course, teammate (and Indy 500 winner) PT finally rises to the occasion.

Michael McGill
San Diego, Calif.

Pat can and will win the Champ car world series next season. He's an all around great guy and fantastic driver. I'm looking very forward to seeing those blue cars of Pat and Paul race around the tracks and collect a bunch of wins.

Seann Woessner
Bakersfield, Calif.

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