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Race Report: Firestone Indy 225
 A.J.
Foyt IV posted his best finish of the season on the toughest track of the Indy
Racing League IndyCar Series Sunday afternoon when he finished 11th at Nazareth
Speedway in the Firestone Indy 225.
"We had a really good day for Team Conseco," Foyt IV said. "Starting so far
back, I got a lap down quick, but the car was decent all day. We lost fifth gear
about three-fourths of the way through, so I had to run in sixth. I wish it
happened earlier, because I liked not having to worry about shifting.
Foyt IV was forced high several times when the leaders made aggressive moves to
pass him on the narrow, one-groove track. Foyt IV would lose a little speed
because his tires would get build-up from being in the marbles. However, the
rookie would regain his rhythm in several laps and again be on pace.
"My grandfather would tell me over the radio to ‘Get Down' when he saw the
leaders coming up or just after they passed me. A couple times he was so loud I
could hear him without the radio."
 "I
thought he did a good job," said A.J. Foyt, team owner and grandfather of the
19-year-old teenager. "He kept his nose clean and was able to finish on a tough
track. I knew this was going to be a really hard race but he handled it really
good. I'm proud of him.
"I'm also proud of my crew because they gave us good pit stops all day. We only
made two stops but they were fast and consistent and we gained positions both
times."
Foyt qualified the No. 14 Conseco Dallara/Toyota car in the 18th position but
started 17th after Sarah Fisher crashed in final practice on Saturday afternoon.
She was released from the hospital Sunday evening with a back contusion and will
be evaluated on a day-today basis to determine when she will be cleared to drive
again.
Helio Castroneves won the race over Sam Hornish, Bryan Herta, Gil DeFerran and
Kenny Brack.
The season is winding down with just three events left. The IRL IndyCar Series
moves to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on September 7th. The Delphi 300
will be televised by ABC at 12 noon Eastern time.
NOTES & QUOTES: Firestone Indy 225 at Nazareth Speedway
A.J. Foyt IV: Conseco No. 14 Dallara/Toyota/Firestone
 A.J.
Foyt on Nazareth: "Nazareth is not an easy track to set up for and since we
didn't test there this year, it will be even harder for A.J. IV. But he
surprised me with how good he ran in the Richmond race, so I've learned to never
count him out. I just hope we have good weather so we don't lose any practice
time. Even if I had a veteran driving for me which I don't, just finishing this
race would make me happy."
At Kentucky, A.J. IV finished 17th, his first finish since Nashville
where he also finished 17th. "The car was a better car than where we finished,"
Foyt IV said. "We couldn't get going on cold tires which cost us time but the
Conseco car got better and better as we adjusted on it throughout the race. I
stalled the engine on the first pitstop which hurt us. Then I lost the ‘shift
without lift' about halfway through the race so that also cost us some speed.
But my Conseco team gave me great pit stops, so there were some good things that
came out of that race."
Ed Carpenter, who drives the Infiniti Pro Series No. 14 car for Foyt
Racing, will compete in the USAC Silver Crown race at Nazareth Speedway this
weekend. The IPS is not racing at Nazareth. The 2003 Butler University graduate
will drive the Hoffman Racing No. 69, the same car that he drove at Phoenix and
Richmond on the IRL race weekends. Running a very limited schedule this season,
Carpenter's best finish is third, posted at Richmond after starting 10th.He will
be in the same carH
Past performance for Foyt Racing at Nazareth Speedway: Last year,
changing weather conditions and a lack of testing hampered the Foyt Racing
team's performance at Nazareth. Airton Dare qualified 17th and finished 11th. He
had problems getting into the small pit box which cost him time on his pit
stops, plus he lost 4th and 5th gears on the final restarts. Richie Hearn subbed
for Eliseo Salazar, who was injured in testing at Indy. Hearn qualified 22nd and
finished 14th after losing a lap early. There were a record 112 laps run under
caution due to light rain and accidents.
The Firestone Indy 225 will be televised live Sunday at 3:00 pm Eastern on ESPN.
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