IRL Notebook: A Foyt returns to victory lane

July 7, 2002 KANSAS CITY, Kan. the AP reported that the next generation of Foyt racing arrived in victory lane Sunday as A.J. Foyt IV won the Infiniti Pro Series Kansas 100, finishing just ahead of actor/driver Jason Priestley.

The 18-year-old Foyt -- grandson of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt -- started from the pole and led 63 of the 67 laps in a race that was slowed for 24 laps by two caution periods.

"That was a real good race," Foyt said. "Good wheel-to-wheel action and good for the fans."

Priestley finished second more than 2 seconds back, followed by Cory Witherill in third.

Foyt opened a lead following the first restart, after Matthew Halliday crashed on the third lap. He was eventually caught by Ronnie Johncox and Aaron Fike and the three battled for the lead.

That battle ended when Johncox tangled with Arie Luyendyk Jr. in Turn 4 on lap 47, collecting Fike in the process.

Foyt's day wasn't over after the morning victory. He was the right-front tire changer on his grandfather's other Harrah's team, driven by winner Airton Dare, during the Ameristar Casino 200.

The elder Foyt said his first major win was in the Kansas City area on a quarter-mile dirt track in 1957.

"I couldn't be more happier than I am today," Foyt said. "I thought Anthony did a great job. I was driving harder than he was over the radio.

"I kept telling him 'play it cool, play it cool.'"

Witherill, a full-blooded Navajo, competed in the Indy Lights Series and said the two cars were similar.

"They've got about the same amount of horsepower," he said. "I think with these cars in the series, this is the series to be in if you want to go Indy car racing."

Halliday was admitted to the University of Kansas Medical Center for observation with a concussion and broken wrist.

FINALLY OVER? Marlboro Team Penske and IRL President Tony George appear to be in agreement on more than one matter regarding the 2002 Indianapolis 500 -- the appeals process.

George rejected an appeal by Team Green and Paul Tracy, letting stand the victory of Marlboro Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves at the Indianapolis 500.

Tracy and team owner Barry Green had maintained that Tracy passed Castroneves before the caution light came on and should have won the race under yellow. IRL officials did not see it that way, sticking to the series rule that infractions under caution cannot be disputed.

George said the process worked and that he did not anticipate any changes.

Team owner Roger Penske agrees, noting that data provided to the IRL confirmed that the caution light was on in Castroneves' car and he slowed in Turn 3. Tracy continued on, passing him for what he thought was the lead and the win.

"There's no question," Penske said, noting that a spotter for Sam Hornish Jr. signed an affidavit affirming that Castroneves was leading when the caution came on.

Penske said he respected Green and his operations, but the rules were clearly on his side in this matter.

"For now, that should be the end of it," Penske said.

HEAT OF THE DAY: Temperatures on the track Sunday reached more than 130 degrees, making conditions tough for the drivers and mirroring last year's first race at Kansas Speedway, where the crowd of more than 78,000 baked.

Since last year, Kansas Speedway officials installed water misters beneath the grandstand to help fans cope with the heat, which topped 90 degrees under humid, hazy skies.

Sam Hornish Jr. said conditions were a bit cooler than last year, but still warm.

"It's hot. You start sweating from the time you put your helmet on," he said.

Two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was treated for overheating at the infield care center after his went out of the race after 189 laps.

PLEASING THE SPONSOR: Foyt Racing scored two victories for sponsor Harrah's Casinos, which has two locations not far from Kansas Speedway. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe operates a Harrah's Casino on its reservation north of Topeka, while Harrah's has a second location in Kansas City, Mo., along the Missouri River.