O> Mar 20 19:51:45 idefix kernel: ata12: PATA max PIO0 cmd 0xa100 ctl 
> 0xa10e irq 3
> Mar 20 19:52:15 idefix kernel: ata12.00: qc timeout (cmd 0x91)
> Mar 20 19:52:15 idefix kernel: ata12.00: failed to IDENTIFY 
> (INIT_DEV_PARAMS failed, err_mask=0x4)

Thinkpad T61p .. I've seen a few of these.

Firstly try the card and adapter in a different PC and let me know if
that works. So far they do. If that is the case get the latest firmware
updates (BIOS etc) for your thinkpad and see if the problem goes away.
They (or our ACPI code I guess it may be) have some serious IRQ routing
problems on this box.

Alan