Busy Start for Takuma Sato and AJ Foyt Racing Team Principals in 2013

WALLER, TX January 31, 2013 – Race driver Takuma Sato had not yet sat in the No. 14 ABC Supply Honda that he was hired to drive in this year’s IZOD IndyCar Series when he went on a Caribbean cruise with AJ Foyt Racing’s sponsor ABC Supply this month. Team owner A.J. Foyt did not go on the cruise but his son Larry, Team Director of AJ Foyt Racing, did.

The Holland America cruise ship took Sato and young Foyt on a seven-day trip through the Western Caribbean after first stopping in the Bahamas where they rode horses in the sea.  When the ship stopped in Jamaica the next day, Foyt rode ATVs with company executives and Sato chose to ride a zip-line! Visiting Grand Cayman Island the following day, Foyt and Sato went jet-skiing and snorkeling with the Blue Water Beach Parasailing Company.

While the ship was at sea, Sato signed autographs for the customers who could also see the ABC Supply Indy show car aboard the ship which was chartered by the Beloit, Wisconsin-based company.

During the evening hours, the two men joined in the various cocktail parties and dinners that were held aboard the ship which carried over 2000 passengers serviced by a crew of 950 people.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We at AJ Foyt Racing would like to thank everyone for their support this past season and want to wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season! We’re looking forward to a great year in 2013 – and we’ll tell you all about our plans in January!  Happy Holidays!

Takuma Sato Signs with AJ Foyt Racing

WALLER, TX January 10, 2013—It’s official! Ending several months of speculation about their plans for 2013, AJ Foyt Racing has signed Takuma Sato to drive the ABC Supply No. 14 Honda in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“There were a lot of question marks when the season ended but I’m happy to put an end to all that now. We chose to go with Takuma Sato because he brings a lot of experience to our team but he has the hunger of a rookie--and he’s certainly proven he has the desire to win,” said A.J. Foyt.

Most of the ex-Formula One driver’s career has been spent on road courses, but he has adapted quickly to the ovals which makes him a contender no matter the circuit. His performance in last year’s Indianapolis 500 gained the attention of Foyt—and legions of new fans. Although that race ended dramatically with Sato hitting the wall, Foyt appreciated Sato’s ‘No Attack, No Chance’ attitude that triggered the daring, but unsuccessful, pass of leader Dario Franchitti on the final lap.

“I like the fact that he is competitive on both road courses and ovals and that he is a charger,” said Foyt. “I think he has learned quite a bit in the short time he’s been over here and I look forward to working with him this year.”

Sato enters his fourth year of IndyCar competition. In the past three years, he has won pole positions at Iowa and Edmonton (in 2011), claimed five top-5 finishes and 13 top-10s in a total of 49 starts. His career best finish is second which he earned at Edmonton’s airport circuit last year after starting third.

“I am extremely excited to be a part of A.J. Foyt Racing and working with ABC Supply for the 2013 season,” said Sato.  “I have seen the potential of the team last year on a number of occasions.  I think the team has one of the best engineering staffs in the paddock led by Don Halliday.  I can’t wait to start testing next month.

“While I do not know A.J. well yet, it is unbelievable what he did in his career.  A.J. has achieved so many wins in every type of car, at every type of circuit, and in every type of situation.  That experience can only help in trying to win races this year.  I think with A.J. and the team helping me this year, we can be very successful.”

Conor Daly Impresses in his IndyCar Debut

SEBRING, FL Dec. 13, 2012—Conor Daly took to the track in A.J. Foyt’s ABC Supply Indy car for the first time at Sebring International Raceway to test for the racing legend and prove to himself that Indycar racing could be in his promising future.

“I thought it would be very different,” Daly said after stepping out of the car. “I thought it would take most of the morning to start getting into a competitive range but honestly we were quite competitive here early so that was pretty cool for me to do. One time I was catching Helio [Castroneves] and I was thinking ‘What is this?’ These were guys I looked up to for years so it was really, really cool.”

Daly ran 111 laps, and an unofficial .45 seconds off the quickest time set by Will Power; Daly was faster than several of the 15 drivers who were testing on Friday. But the test wasn’t about speed as much as giving a young race driver an opportunity of a lifetime just two days before his 21st birthday.