This is not confirmed by Foyt Racing at this time, but My Name Is IRL has reason to believe the team will soon been announcing a second Indy Car Series entry. And before we go any further, it's NOT involving Paul Tracy.
Although the IRL open test at Homestead was concluded on Thursday, activity involving Foyt's #14 entry continued on Friday. A reader on the TrackForum message board (I know, not exactly concrete proof of anything) said the car was supposedly involved in the rookie test Foyt's USAC driver Pablo Donoso.
A headline on Donoso's site seems to confirm the test has been passed and an announcement is forthcoming.
PABLO DONOSO SE CONVIERTE EN PILOTO OFICIAL DE A.J. FOYT PARA LA TEMPORADA 2008
I know it's en espanol, but the guy is Chilean.
PABLO DONOSO BECOMES OFFICIAL DRIVER OF A.J. FOYT FOR SEASON 2008
If this is indeed the case, one can't help but wonder if Mr George has slipped some hush-money to Super Tex to stop publicly asking things like "Why do the people who treated us like s@#$ all these years get free cars and money?"
(thanks to reader Keith for bringing this to our attention)
UPDATE: The braintrust at TSO is on the story, finding links to Spanish-language publications reporting this as well.
According to well connected sources in Chile, Pablo Donoso will indeed drive the #41 for AJ Foyt Racing in 2008.
If you didn't know, Donoso is a Chilean driver that is a protege of Eliseo Salazar. Last year Donoso drove USAC Silver Crown cars on the big pavement tracks for Foyt.
He also has experience in lower formula single seat cars including Formula Renault in Argentina, the Formula Nissan World Series and US Star Mazda.
(MORE from TrackSide Online)
Of all the available drivers like PJ Chesson, etc., why choose someone so obscure? Maybe they wanted someone that didn't speak English well enough to understand what AJ the Man was yelling at him.
Having said that, my first thought after reading The Man's post-merger comment was that someone must have sweetened the pot for him.
It does say he's been driving for AJ for a year or so.
Donoso may look obscure for somebody who doesn't know much about world racing.
He have raced with good results in SouthAmerica, Europe and NorthAmerica.
Check at wikipedia.
lilly ... the answer is .... money. If PJ had a $2 million sponsor, I gar-un-tee he'd be in a ride. Mr. Donoso probably comes bearing check.
Bash,
If this goes through, I'm thinking Jeff may have to christen Sr. Donoso with the nickname "Red Hot Chile Pepper".
Or, AKA Pablo is still available, although Jeff may not want Sr. Donoso's lawyers to sue him for defamation by linking him to that old show!
Other than that, I got nuthin'
:^)