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INDYCAR: Foyt Evaluating Options For Second Entry
Larry Foyt tells Robin Miller the Texas-based team could run as many as three cars at Indy, and would like to expand to a second full-time car.
Robin Miller  |  Posted January 22, 2013  
Could Alex Lloyd make his IndyCar return with Super Tex? (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Alex Lloyd charged from 26th to fourth in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 for Dale Coyne’s team. Bertrand Baguette almost stole the 2011 Indy 500 for Bobby Rahal. And Conor Daly was impressive in his first IndyCar test at Sebring last month for A.J. Foyt.

One of those drivers will likely end up teaming with Takuma Sato this May for Foyt’s annual run at Indianapolis. Up until yesterday, it looked like one of the boys could be in the No. 41 car for the entire season, but in the latest twist, it doesn’t appear that Super Tex will be fielding a second car full-time in the 2013 IZOD IndyCar season.

“If we could do a 2-car team the right way, yes, we’d like to but at this stage for 2013 it’s going to be pretty difficult to do,” said Larry Foyt, team director for his father’s operation.

“Our focus is on Takuma and to have two really strong programs for Indy and we still have to see what’s going on with Chase (Austin in a third car).”

Sato is replacing Mike Conway in the No. 14 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda and Honda encouraged its one-car teams like Foyt, Rahal and Sam Schmidt to expand in 2014.

Lloyd, the 28-year-old Brit who did a nice job in Coyne’s under-funded effort in 2010-11, has qualified for five straight Indy 500s.

Baguette, a 25-year-old Belgian who drove one full season in IndyCar for Eric Bachelart in 2010, was leading Indy in 2011 with three laps left when he had to make a late fuel stop.

Daly, the 21-year-old son of ex-Formula One and Indy regular Derek, is coming off a strong season in GP3 and is working on a return to that series for 2013 but would likely be available in May.

“Nothing is signed with anybody, right now it’s just talk,” continued Larry Foyt. “A.J. likes Alex and I think Baguette is doing world endurance sports cars again but wants to come back to Indianapolis.

“A.J. and I are definitely interested in Conor for next year and maybe we can run him in May, as well as a couple of times this year later in the season.”

The Foyts were also happy with the job Wade Cunningham did last year at Indy and filling in for Conway and are staying in contact with the former Indy Lights champ.

Last summer A.J. announced he would partner with Honda and field a car this May for Austin as part of a diversity initiative. If the deal comes together, Foyt could be a 3-car effort at IMS.

Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
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