Phoenix International Raceway
IRLCOPPER WORLD INDY 200

Phoenix International Raceway

Foyt IV Finishes Fourteenth at Phoenix

Prior to the start, Team Conseco examines the fuel system to check the source of a fuel leak caused in part by the hot weather. The methanol fuel in the fuel tank expanded and leaked out through a gasket. The problem was quickly fixed.

A.J. Foyt IV kept his cool on a blistering hot day to finish 14th in the Copper World Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday afternoon.

Several other drivers were not as cool-headed as the teenage Texan; the race was slowed three times for cars spinning and hitting the wall. None of the drivers were injured.

"Our Conseco car was much better than the results show today," Foyt IV said afterwards. "Towards the end of the race we were running laps as fast as the leaders. Unfortunately, I got hung up behind a slow car early in the race and I just couldn't get by him. He blocked me pretty good. It was frustrating. He eventually crashed himself out of the race but by then I lost a lot of time. Still, I'm glad we were able to bring the car home in one piece."

Foyt IV appeared unfazed by the 96-degree ambient temperature and the 123-degree track surface temperature at the one-mile oval located just west of Phoenix. After nearly 200 laps clocked in the 23-24 second bracket, he emerged from the Conseco cockpit none the worse for wear. Several drivers commented that it was one of the toughest races of their careers.

"The heat didn't really bother me too much," Foyt said. "I was able to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated."

Tony Kanaan won the race for the second straight year. He was followed by Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon, Alex Barron and Darren Manning.

The next race is the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan on April 17. The race will be shown on a tape delay on ESPN2.

In the meantime, Team Conseco heads to Indianapolis in early April to take part in the manufacturers' test of the new 3.0 liter engine which the teams will use starting with the Indianapolis 500.
 

NOTES & QUOTES: IRL Copper World Indy 200

A.J. Foyt IV: Conseco No. 14 Dallara/Toyota/Firestone

A.J. Foyt IV on Phoenix: "We tested pretty good in the open test at Phoenix. The Conseco car handled better on the short runs than the long runs. We did some 50-lap runs and the car got a little loose. We're going back with different under trays which should give us more downforce.

"They widened the track coming off turn two which just gives us more room for error. We still try to run the same line which is to run low. In the race, the main thing is to get the car good on long runs. You have to run consistent all day and be good in traffic. It's tough to pass there. You have to have patience and wait for people to make mistakes and then try to get around them."

Foyt Firsts at PIR: A.J. IV's first test in an Indy car came at Phoenix International Raceway. He was there to test his grandfather's USAC Silver Crown car. Drivers Eliseo Salazar and Donnie Beechler were testing the Foyt Racing Indy cars. Foyt IV drove Salazar's car for several stints. "I didn't go real fast, but I got very comfortable in the car and realized for the first time that I could do this," Foyt IV said. In his first race at the track last year, Foyt IV started 21st and dropped out after 64 laps with handling problems. He was credited with 18th.

A.J. Foyt won the first Indy car race at PIR on March 22, 1964 nearly 40 years to the day of this year's event. He qualified second in the Offy-powered Watson roadster and beat Roger McCluskey in the 100-lapper. That victory was the first of seven straight for Foyt in Indy cars, a record that still holds today. Foyt won 10 out of 13 races that year including his second Indy 500.

The changes he's seen since then..."The facility has been improved quite a bit. They replaced the wooden grandstands and added more seating, added the suites and the garages. They built a new road and bridge over the river because it used to wash out when it rained real bad or when they opened the dam up above. The best improvement by far was adding the tunnel in turn four. You don't get stuck in the infield anymore. The biggest change though is how much the area around the track has been developed. When I first came out, it was just cotton fields and the track was the only thing out there. I can't believe all the houses, hotels and restaurants that have been built."

The Copper World Indy 200 will be broadcast live by ABC this Sunday at 4 pm EST.

In 2003, Foyt IV's best start was 14th and his best finish was 11th. He finished 21st in the standings. His biggest payday was May 25th, his 19th birthday, when he finished 18th in the Indianapolis 500 to earn $264,315.