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Patrick Carpentier Joins Cheever and Fittipaldi at Rolex 24 at Daytona

Indianapolis, Ind. (Dec. 29, 2005) ­ Canadian driver Patrick Carpentier will join Eddie Cheever Jr. and Christian Fittipaldi in driving the No. 39 Cheever Racing Lexus Crawford at the 2006 Rolex 24 at Daytona, announced team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. today.

³I really enjoyed the test with Cheever Racing before Christmas,² said Patrick who drove for Cheever Racingıs IndyCar Series team in 2005. ³It was the first time I ever set foot inside the Daytona track or drove a Daytona Prototype. We have a lot of learning to do, in a short time, but a race car is a race car. It will be fun to drive with Eddie and Christian in this historical event.²

A favorite of Canadian sports fans, the 34-year-old native, of Joliette, Quebec, will add a new chapter to his racing history by participating in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, North Americaıs premier endurance race. In 2005, Carpentier drove in his first Indianapolis 500 and finished 10th overall in the IndyCar Series championship with two third-place finishes. Also to his record, Carpentier has five career wins in the Champ Car Series from 1997 to 2004 and is the winner of the 1996 Toyota Atlantic Championship.

³Last year Patrick won a lot of fans at Cheever Racing with his fast, yet skilled driving, and his sense of humor always keeps us smiling² Cheever said. ³I am pleased he will be joining us for this event. With our driver lineup confirmed I feel confident heading into Daytona, I am just getting a little tired of the ³old² guy comments now that I am teamed with the two young guns Patrick and Christian.²

Carpentier will test at the 3.56-mile Daytona International Raceway road circuit in preparation for his first ever Daytona event during the annual Daytona Test Days, Jan. 4-7. Eddie Cheever Jr. and Christian Fittipaldi will also attend the test where Cheever Racing will make its final on-track preparations for its first entry in the famed Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 44th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona is Jan. 26-29 at Daytona International Raceway.

Based in Indianapolis, Cheever Racing opened its doors in 1997 to race in the IRL IndyCar Series. The team went on to win the 1998 Indianapolis 500. A leader in American motorsports, the team is built on owner Eddie Cheever Jr.ıs 30-plus years of experience in Formula One, sports cars and open-wheel racing.