Carpentier Pleased with Performance at Daytona (z04)

Rolex Series Final Test Report from Daytona

CARPENTIER PLEASED WITH TEAM PERFORMANCE AT DAYTONA

Montréal, QC - January 6, 2007 - Patrick 
Carpentier left Florida pleased with the team's 
performance following two days of on-track 
activities during the Daytona Test Days. Over 60 
racing machines, including 25 Daytona Prototypes, 
took part in the final of the three pre-season 
Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series test sessions. 
Unfortunately, the #11 SAMAX Pontiac Riley missed 
the final day on Saturday following a mechanical 
failure that occurred during the late stages of 
the Friday night session, the only one run under 
the lights.

It was during the night session on Friday that 
Carpentier performed best ending the session in 
second place. The Canadian driver, now living in 
Las Vegas, held first place in the charts before 
handing over the seat to his teammate. However, 
two-time Rolex Series class champion Bill 
Auberlen logged the quickest lap late in the 
session to best Carpentier's time by only one 
tenth of a second. While on track, Carpentier's 
times were right up there in the Top-5 in every 
session he was part of.

  "I'm very pleased with the performance of the 
team during the two days we tested the Pontiac 
Riley," said Mecachrome-backed Carpentier. "Each 
time I was on the track, we were constantly in 
the Top-5. SAMAX Motorsport always hands us a 
competitive car and I'm happy with that fact. 
During the only night session, we finished second 
overall. This is a good sign as half the race is 
run under the lights and oftentimes, it's during 
that period that the Daytona 24 is won or lost. I 
think we can do very well in the season opener. 
It's unfortunate that we had to miss the final 
day, but we accomplished almost everything the 
team had planned. I can't wait for the start of 
the season."

Even though Carpentier did well during his two 
days, his name never appeared in the results 
sheets, leaving more than one skeptic wondering 
what was what. Next to the #11, SAMAX Pontiac 
Riley driven by Carpentier appears the word TBA. 
It seems that SAMAX Motorsport did not want to 
unveil its Daytona 24 driver roster as details 
have yet to be finalized with some of its 
drivers. In pre-season testing, teams have no 
obligation to divulge the names of their drivers, 
but could have entered the names of the ones 
already under contract. The situation led some 
teams questioning the availability of Carpentier, 
and even arouse the curiosity of the track 
announcer.

  "I was approached by two top teams inquiring 
about my status with SAMAX because my name was 
not on the result sheets, but I reassured them 
that I had signed for the season," continued 
Carpentier. The funniest situation came on 
Saturday morning when the track announcer did an 
interview with me and introduced me as Mr. TBA 
driving the #11 SAMAX Pontiac Riley. That drew a 
few smiles."

The final checkered flag fell on Saturday 
afternoon at Daytona International Speedway 
ending the pre-season test sessions with the 
SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley of Max Angelelli, 
Jeff Gordon and Wayne Taylor leading a field of 
64 cars with a time of 1:43.483 (199.310 
Kph/123.846 mph). They posted their best lap in 
the seventh and penultimate Saturday session, 
edging the Gainsco Racing Pontiac Riley of Jon 
Fogarty, Alex Gurney and Jimmy Vasser by over two 
tenths of a second. Third quickest in the Daytona 
Prototype class was the Target Chip Ganassi Lexus 
Riley of Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon. The absence 
of the #11 SAMAX Pontiac Riley while track 
conditions were optimal on Saturday is a 
reflection of why they are not up with the 
leaders as the second SAMAX entry finished eighth 
overall.

The 14-race season begins January 27 with the 
45th running of the 2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series will make 
its first appearance at Montreal's Circuit Gilles 
Villeneuve Friday August 3 for a 400-kilometer 
race. The Montreal race weekend will feature on 
Saturday the first-ever NASCAR Busch Series race 
held in Canada.

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Patrick Carpentier News Media Services:
Max d'Orsonnens: 514-990-4988