Carlos Munoz, Conor Daly will drive for AJ Foyt Racing
AJ Foyt Racing will have two new faces in the cockpit in 2017.
Carlos Munoz and Conor Daly will drive for the four-time Indianapolis 500 champion and team owner, replacing Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth.
Munoz, who drove for Andretti Autosport since he entered the series part-time in 2013, basically switched places with Sato, who signed with Andretti Autosport last month.
Munoz will drive the No. 14, with that team based in Texas.
The Colombian, 24, finished 10th in the standings this season and has posted two second-place finishes among his four Indy 500 starts. That includes this year, when he lost to then-teammate and rookie Alexander Rossi. Munoz has one win and one pole in 53 starts.
Daly, 24, will drive the No. 4, with that team based in Speedway, Ind. He is making a return to the team with which he debuted in 2013 at the Indy 500.
He ran five races in 2014 with Dale Coyne Racing and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, then ran a full slate this year with DCR, boasting two top-five finishes. After scuttling for the scant few rides in IndyCar he seemed invigorated not only by the prospects of a full-time job, but a teammate.
“I think, you know, (team president) Larry and A.J. (Foyt) they’re embracing the future. That’s one thing that I really want to see even more teams do,” Daly said in a teleconference. “I believe there are a lot of other young drivers out there, as well, who deserve to be in full-time. I’m happy that we’ve got this opportunity, Carlos and I, at the Foyt Racing team. I think we are absolutely going to push each other.
“We want to win so badly. I haven’t experienced it. Carlos has. Carlos has won. It’s one of those things, I just think we are genuinely more hungry.”
ABC Supply will remain the team sponsor through 2018, making it the longest active primary sponsor for a team in the Verizon IndyCar Series. It kicks off its 13th season next year. Target, which was with Chip Ganassi Racing for 27 seasons, concluded its run this year.
“It’s been a busy off-season, which to me is a great thing,” team president Larry Foyt said via a team release. “There are many moving parts as we grow and continue to strengthen our weaknesses as a team. … I can’t remember a time when the Verizon IndyCar Series has been this competitive from top to bottom, so we know we have to work around the clock this winter to meet our goals before the season starts.”
The team has yet to announce an engine manufacturer.