After making the offer at the 2012 Sprint Cup Series award banquet, Penske said:

If he wants to do the double, I’d put him in it. We’ve talked about it before. I guess I made it official tonight.

But, Stewart decided to pass on the offer. He said:

As much as I would like to do it, we just don’t have the time to do it proper. The IRL is so competitive now, you’re not going to just show up like drivers used to do in the past and be competitive. These guys don’t leave anything on the table there. You’re not going to stroll into the Indy 500 with these guys who race every week and be as competitive as they are. It was a very humbling comment and offer that he made, for sure.

He added:

I’m very humbled by the fact that he offered it to us. It’s a great opportunity, but it’s very hard when you’re running three Cup teams right now and the obligations that we have making sure that we’re doing the right things, we have a lot of people that depend on us. And, it’s kind of like being at Thanksgiving dinner. My plate is finally full. I don’t know if I can add anymore to what I have right now.

Stewart did, however, leave the door open to doing it in the future, if the offer still stands.

There has been some speculation that SHR owner Tony Stewart wouldn’t want to go through the hassle of fielding a third car to run it part time. If that is indeed the case, he would be in the market for a part time driver. Mark Martin’s name has been rumored as a potential candidate.

Martin, who will leave Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Cup team at season’s end to make way for Kasey Kahne, has said in the past that he is looking for a part time ride next season, and that he has nothing in the works. So, it would seem that Martin is available.

Plus, for SHR, it would be good to have a driver with Martin’s knowledge of how a successful team should run behind the wheel of one of their cars. That’s not to say Stewart, a two-time champion, doesn’t know. But, how could it hurt to have Martin providing feedback as well?

It would also give the pit crew more on-track reps so that they can be at the top of their game when Patrick is in the car. This is very important because Patrick is sure to have a bullseye on her back thanks in part to her meteoric rise to the top ranks of NASCAR without much experience.

But, in order for Martin to join SHR, a sponsor would need to be found. That seems to be the main concern. But, is it really?

Martin currently drives the No. 5 Chevy, which is sponsored by GoDaddy.com so he obviously has a relationship with them. Given their relationship with both he and Patrick, they could step up and sponsor races for both drivers. But this, of course, is speculation.

When asked about sharing a ride with Patrick, Martin said:

There are some scenarios that could be perfect for me. But for right now, that’s pipe dreaming. For now. … I’m cool. I’m 100 percent at peace.

Carpentier said:

It’s been a few years that I’ve thought about it. I discussed it with my wife. We talked about my situation on several occasions and I came to the conclusion that I must move on.

Carpentier made his NASCAR debut in what is now known as the Nationwide Series in 2007 at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve driving the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge. He started on the pole and finished second. He made his Sprint Cup Series debut eight days later in GEM’s No. 10 Dodge at Watkins Glen International. He started 40th, led seven laps, and finished 20th.

He made four more starts that season, two in Nationwide and two in Cup. He finished 19th in the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen and 42nd in the Ford 300 at Miami-Homestead Speedway in Nationwide. He finished 33rd in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and 40th in the Ford 400 at Miami-Homestead in Cup.

In the fall of 2007, it was announced that he would run the No. 10 full time in Cup in 2008. He made 24 starts in ’08, averaging a finishing position of 29.6.

He also made eight starts in the Nationwide Series for GEM. He posted four top 10s, including a runner-up finish at Montreal. And, he made on Camping World Truck Series start driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia in the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He finished 25th.

In the summer of 2008, Carpentier announced he would be leaving GEM after they hired Reed Sorenson for 2009. In October, he was released by GEM and former Red Bull Racing driver AJ Allmendinger finished the year in the No. 10.

In 2009, Carpentier drove Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 55 Cup Toyota at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International. He also made three starts in Tommy Baldwin Racing’s No. 36 car in events that conflicted with Mike Skinner (TBR’s full-time driver) Camping World Truck Series schedule. He finished 11th in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 that year, his best career Cup finish.

In 2010, Carpentier ran six races for Latitude 43 Motorsports, replacing David Stremme who left the team, claiming owner Bob Jenkins was not interest in helping the team improve. He never finished better than 21st.  Latitude planned to run select races in 2011, but they have yet to make a start. They are believed to have ceased operations.

Carpentier also ran one race for MWR, the Nationwide race at Montreal. He finished 32nd.

In 2011, Carpentier ran FAS Lane Racing’s No. 32 in the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway. He started 40th and finished 30th. 

Carpentier’ saw his most success in the CART Champ Car Series between 2001 and 2004. He won at least one race in each of those years while driving for Forsythe Championship Racing.

Carpentier left Forsythe to join Cheever Racing, Eddie Cheever’s Indy Racing League IndyCar Series team, in 2005. Carpentier never won an Indy race, largely due to uncompetitve Toyota engines used by Cheever Racing. The team lost its sponsor, Red Bull, and Carpentier was left without a ride.

He attempted to qualify for the 2011 Indy 500 driving for Dragon Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series. He failed to make the race.

John Andretti said:

It would be difficult to script a scenario any better than the one we have here. The relationship I have with Richard, the respect I have for Michael [Andretti] and his team, the partnership I enjoy with Window World and all of it focused on the Indianapolis 500 – it’s really a perfect situation. I can’t wait to get in the car and get to work. May can’t get here soon enough.

The car will feature Petty’s tradition Petty Blue and Day-Glo Red color scheme that The King made famous during his career. The car will have decals for Window World Cares, the charitable foundation of Window World Inc.

Petty said:

I’m excited to be a part of this venture with John, Andretti Autosport, and Window World for the Indy 500. There is so much history around this event and the Andretti’s have such a rich tradition in racing. I’m looking forward to watching John hit the track in May.

Andretti will join teammates Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, and Danica Patrick as a part of Andretti Autosport. If he qualifies, it will be his 11th Indy 500.

Last year, Andretti, Petty, and Window World teamed up with Dreyer & Reibold Racing to field a car in the Indy 500. He finished 19th. The team hopse to improve upon that finish by teaming with Andretti Autosport, which won the Indy 500 in 2005 and 2007.

Team owner, and John Andretti’s cousin, Michael Andretti said:

I’m really excited to be able to be a part of this. Richard Petty is one of the true legends in our sport and someone I have always admired. Window World deserves a lot of credit for bringing all of this together. … I have a lot of respect for John’s talent – I always have. I really think he will fit in very well at Andretti Autosport and can be a factor during the month of May.