Carpentier joins unemployment line

Patrick Carpentier is officially a free agent as the driver says that Gillett Evernham Motorsports has told him it does not have a sponsor for him for next season.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie had been free to talk to other teams, but GEM had first right of refusal until Tuesday. GEM could still find a sponsor for Carpentier, but the former open-wheel driver believes that likely will not happen.

GEM already has three drivers under contract for next year – current drivers Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler as well as Chip Ganassi Racing’s Reed Sorenson.

“It sure is sad that we don’t keep going," Carpentier said in a phone interview with NASCAR Scene from his home in Las Vegas Tuesday. “I think we did pretty good with the No. 10. … I’m disappointed, but it’s OK. I’m going to enjoy the rest of the year and just have fun with it and see if we can find anything else."

Carpentier is 36th in points and has competed in 22 of the 27 Cup events. He has failed to qualify for two events, missed two others when qualifying was rained out and skipped one event to concentrate on the Nationwide Series race in his native Montreal.

“We’re talking to a couple of teams, and some of them seem to have a good interest," Carpentier said. “Hopefully we do [find something], but you never know in racing." Scenedaily.com