IndyCar's Karam defends himself after Carpenter criticism - SI.com
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) Despite getting dressed down by Ed Carpenter after some close racing in Iowa, rookie Sage Karam offered the IndyCar veteran an empty seat next to him on the plane ride home. Carpenter had apparently said all he needed to say. ''He said he's pretty much still mad at me,'' Karam said. ''And I said, `Well, you can sit next to me. and we can talk about it. ' He said, `Nah. Karam's biggest step forward, a career-best third-place finish at the Iowa Speedway on Saturday, was overshadowed by the on- and off-the-track altercations with Carpenter after the two cars nearly touched more than once in the closing laps. The 20-year-old Karam wasn't penalized by IndyCar for his driving and Carpenter wasn't penalized for losing his temper - both with an on-track hand gesture and some screaming on pit road afterward. Carpenter said after the race that Karam ''doesn't have a clue. I drive out there like I have something to prove because I do have something to prove. But I think to be the best in the sport nowadays, it going to be the drivers who take the risks,'' Karam said. Karam, who couldn't find a full-time ride for the 2014 season despite winning the feeder series Indy Lights title the year before, finally landed a coveted seat with Chip Ganassi in the offseason. And for much of his rookie year, Karam said, he wasn't pushing the No. 8 car as much as he needed to. It showed in the results. Source: www.si.com
