I wanted to know about the guest house on his newly purchased property.

I had to ask about his return to Sebring in March.

And the entire planet's dying to know if he's ever coming back to "Grey's Anatomy."

While we got in our questions during our pre-race chat on Friday, we didn't find out that Patrick Dempsey was headed for divorce until our drive home.

I tell you this - that explained a lot.

You'd think a charismatic TV stud could handle any situation with grace, wit, and extraordinary confidence. Last year at Sebring, he was all that. This year, it just felt different.

For instance, I asked about when he and Patrick Long went go-karting together, planning for the season ahead. What's Dempsey looking forward to in 2015?

"I'm just looking forward to getting the race started tomorrow and getting through the weekend," he said. "And we'll go from there."

I absorbed that entirely different before knowing that he and his wife, Jillian, were divorcing after 15 years, and afterward. For all I know, he could've been praying that I'd not gotten wind of the announcement and was about to lay it on him! That couldn't have been fun.

Even before we started talking, I noticed that he walked in quite hurriedly into the interview room where were were waiting. He stopped abruptly. In the room were about 12 people in a Q&A who'd been informed that Dempsey would be coming in for a scheduled TV interview. Caught off guard, Patrick said to the room that we need to wait to roll so as not to be disrespectful. I certainly agreeed, but the group insisted on stopping down for him.

Dempsey's politeness was commendable. But his politeness lead to a sarcastic, "No pressure!" remark.

So now, all 12 people turned their bodies toward the two of us as we stood in front of a "step and repeat." Dempsey wasn't shy about his hint of nervousness, even asking whether he could interview me.

During the first question, I noticed his lip quiver slightly, but maybe that's normal for him when doing this stuff. I did what I could to make him feel more comfy, asking about things I assumed he'd love to boast about --  from his new "One Window House" in the Venice neighborhood of L.A., to how he nourishes his (best shape ever) bod before a 24-hour race.

Knowing I'd get nowhere on the whole "Grey's Anatomy" thing, I rephrased the question like this: If he could sit down with his writers, how would he write in his return to the show?

"Well, I don't really tell them, they tell me what they want to do," he emphasized. "I'm very grateful that I have the opportunity to work there. You have to really congratulate Shonda Rhimes on her success. She's not only had one show that's been successful, but now 3 all in the same night. And she handles that responsibility remarkably. She's developed some amazing characters that people really connect to. It's nice to get back. It's nice they've allowed me some time off to go race and to come back in on Monday morning after this race and see the next episode. It's going to start off when we're in DC and Shepherd returns back to Seattle and we'll see where the rest of the season takes us."

I know, Grey's fans - that "we'll see" response warrants a big "booooo." At least he gets the time off to deal with this very new chapter in his life.

Check out our short and extended interviews in the VIDEO section up top.