WALLER, Texas — After weeks of speculation, young rising stars Carlos Munoz and Conor Daly were confirmed on Tuesday as the two full-time drivers for A.J. Foyt Racing Enterprises for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
Both cars, the No. 14 and the newly-rebranded No. 4, will be sponsored by ABC Supply again in 2017 as team owner A.J. Foyt’s team looks to rebound from a disappointing season in which outgoing drivers Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth combined for finishes of 17th and 20th, respectively, in the season-long points standings.
“Both of our drivers are very young and they’ve got their whole future ahead of them,” said Foyt, who turns 82 in January. “I’m looking forward to being a part of that future.”
Munoz, a 24-year-old Colombian and two-time runner-up in the Indianapolis 500, will drive the team’s flagship No. 14 Dallara as he embarks on his fourth full-time season at the Indy car level. He finished 10th in this season’s point standings and moves over to the Foyt stable from Andretti Autosport.
In 53 IndyCar starts, Munoz has one victory (Detroit 2015), one pole (Texas 2016), seven podiums and 23 top-10s. The No. 14 team will operate out of Foyt’s primary shop in Texas.
“I am really excited about this new chapter in my professional career,” Munoz said. “I’m looking forward to driving the No. 14 car, which has so much history, and working with Larry and his dad A.J., who is a legend in auto racing.”
“One of my main goals is to be an Indy 500 champion and I know they want to win another one so hopefully we can do it together. It is a whole new package for AJ Foyt Racing in 2017 plus the team is adding some new personnel, and we will be pushing hard to be competitive every time out. I can’t wait to get started.”
Indiana native Daly returns to the Foyt team, where he made his Indy car debut in 2013 in the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500, to drive the No. 4 Dallara during the 2016 season.
The No. 4 team will be housed in Foyt’s second shop on Main Street in Indianapolis.
As a rookie in his first full IndyCar season this year, the 24-year-old posted some impressive finishes, including a runner-up effort at Detroit and a fourth-place finish at Watkins Glen Int’l. In 22 total starts, Daly has scored six top-10 finishes and led 68 laps.
“I am thrilled to be reunited with AJ Foyt Racing for the 2017 Verizon Indycar Series season,” Daly said. “A.J. and Larry were the ones who gave me my first chance at not only getting in an IndyCar for a test at Sebring but also the greatest race in the world, the Indianapolis 500 in 2013. Now we get an opportunity to compete as a team for the full season and I couldn’t be happier.”
“It will also be very special to me as an American to be in a red, white and blue ABC Supply machine. This will be a great opportunity for me to continue building my IndyCar career and I can’t thank A.J., Larry and ABC Supply Company enough for believing in a young American to deliver for them.”
2017 will mark the first time in team history that A.J. Foyt Racing will field a No. 4 car in full-time Indy car competition. The number is significant both for Foyt, who won a record four Indianapolis 500s, but also for Daly, whose step-father — Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles — was a founding partner and co-owner of Panther Racing, which fielded the No. 4 car.
Boles served as Panther’s chief operating officer from 1997 to 2006, and Daly is looking forward to carrying on the legacy of the number that carries a strong history in his family.
“I always grew up cheering on the number 4 … no matter who was driving it,” Daly admitted. “The number means a lot to my family and I can’t wait to wear it proudly.”
ABC Supply Company returns to A.J. Foyt Racing next year for the 13th consecutive season, dating back to 2005.
The wholesale distributor of roofing is now the longest-serving active primary sponsor in the Verizon IndyCar Series, following Target’s withdrawal from Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2016 season.
“As we celebrate our 35th anniversary at ABC Supply, we are very happy to be continuing our relationship with AJ Foyt Racing,” said Keith Rozolis, ABC Supply Co. Inc. president and chief executive officer. “They’ve been part of the ABC team since 2005, and our associates and customers look forward to watching Carlos and Conor compete and win in 2017.”
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as both the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series and the co-track announcer at Millbridge Speedway.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
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