Looking ahead to 2005 with A.J. Foyt IV
source:
irl.racing-live.com
A.J. Foyt IV believes he can make the next step in
his IRL IndyCar® Series career in 2005.
Foyt, who captured the IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series title in 2002, showed
significant progress during his sophomore campaign, recording his career-best
start (sixth at Chicagoland) and career-best finish (10th at the fall Texas
race) in the final quarter of the season.
The results have him confident as he heads into his third IndyCar Series season
driving a Toyota-powered Dallara that bears the number 14, the same number his
grandfather, racing legend A.J. Foyt, made famous.
"I expect to be competitive at every race, and unless we aren't running at the
end, I expect to be in the top 10," Foyt said of his goals for the year.
Foyt, who won't turn 21 until May, drew attention from other teams in the
off-season, but chose to stay with his grandfather's team. He said his
grandfather has shown him things he needs to work on to achieve his goals this
season.
"I need to focus on the final practice," the younger Foyt said. "I have to give
my team good information so they can give me a good car for the race."
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, who serves as his grandson's
mentor and race engineer, saw progress in 2004, but realizes the team may not
have the equipment it needs to help him win races.