Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and A.J. Foyt Enterprises announced today that they have reached an agreement for Toyota to supply Indy Racing League (IRL) engines to the team beginning in 2003, the manufacturer’s inaugural season of IRL competition.

The agreement makes A. J. Foyt Enterprises one of five teams to sign with Toyota in the manufacturer’s quest for an Indianapolis 500 victory and an IRL IndyCar Series championship. Foyt’s team joins Kelley Racing, Team Penske, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Mo Nunn Racing in utilizing Toyota power in 2003.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises will campaign 18-year-old phenom A.J. Foyt IV, the inaugural Infiniti Pro Series champion in 2002 and the grandson of team owner A.J. Foyt. He was an AAWRBA first-team All-American selection last season after winning four races and four pole positions.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, a name synonymous with IndyCar racing,“ said Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports. “A.J.’s team is a proven winner in the IndyCar Series, and his talented grandson A.J. Foyt IV shows great promise for the future.”

Foyt, the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, won more IndyCar-style races (67) than any driver in history while registering seven national IndyCar-style championships and a total of 12 major driving titles. He is the only driver to have won a combination of the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of LeMans.

Foyt was the inaugural inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1989 and was named by ESPN’s “RPM 2Night” as the top North American driver of the 20th century. As a team owner, Foyt won the 1998 IRL championship and the 1999 Indianapolis 500.

“I am happy that A.J. Foyt Enterprises entered into an agreement with Toyota this year,” relayed Foyt. “They have done a lot of testing on their engine with impressive results. Bottom line is that we’re trying to put together the best program possible for my grandson A.J. Foyt IV and we’re off to a good start.”

TRD, U.S.A. commenced its operation in 1979 as the North American technical arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota’s racing engines. Championship-caliber powerplants have been produced for various series including CART; IMSA; SCORE, MTEG and CORR off-road racing; Toyota Atlantic; NASCAR Goody’s Dash; SCCA; and Pikes Peak. TRD also distributes a premium quality line of high-performance aftermarketparts for Toyota products.