His Professor Said Racing Wasn't a Real Career | Ed Carpenter, ECR

Get IN. with Nate Spangle · May 20, 2026 · 54m

On today's show I sat down with Indiana native, IndyCar driver, and team owner Ed Carpenter who talks about Indy 500 pressure, building an IndyCar team, and having Indiana pride.

Carpenter raced USAC through high school and college, balancing racing while earning a marketing degree from Butler University, where he was even given a D by a professor for having an "unrealistic five-year plan." He debuted in IndyCar in 2003 and the Indy 500 in 2004, and helped build and later shut down his family's Vision Racing.

He founded Ed Carpenter Racing in 2012 with partners including Stuart Reed…