AJ Foyt Racing Team Preview

The 2022 season will look quite different for A.J. Foyt Racing. After an underwhelming past decade, the team breathes fresh life and new energy in 2022. Returning to the team for a third year is Dalton Kellett. The team also announced in the off season the addition of rookie Kyle Kirkwood piloting the #14 full time. Kirkwood takes over the 14 from Sebastian Bourdais who exits IndyCar to run sports cars. Kirkwood will compete for Rookie of the Year honors. The team also announced that Tatiana Calderon will run the road and street course for the team in the #11. Calderon tested for the team last summer at Mid-Ohio, and with the backing of sponsor Rokit, Calderon will be the lone female on the grid this season. J.R. Hildebrand is rumored to pilot the #11 Chevy on ovals in 2022, including the Indianapolis 500.

After two years with the team, Sebastian Bourdais has exited IndyCar for a full season in sports cars with Chip Ganassi Racing as mentioned. Bourdais scored the only two top five finishes in 2021 for the team with a pair of 5th place finishes at Alabama and Gateway. In 2022, Dalton Kellett will be the elder statesmen full time and if Hildebrand does run all the ovals, he brings a great brain into the engineering room. Charlie Kimball failed to make the Indy 500 last year in a fourth Foyt entry. Bottom line for the team in 2022 is to keep getting better.

Kellett heads into his third full time season with A.J. Foyt Racing. The Canadian is yet to score a top 10 finish and had a best result in 2021 of 12th. Kellett’s best run came at Gateway last summer where the team finished 5th and 12th respectively.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Everywhere. Kellett needs to keep pace in 2022. It will be more important than ever for the three Foyt cars to work together as Kellett will be joined by two rookies in the engineering room. Larry Foyt is fully committed to getting the team back to fighting for wins in IndyCar, Kellett needs to prove he can show the pace needed to consistently contend for Top 10 finishes.

PROJECTION: I don’t think the team is going to stand for another year of running 18th-22nd all season. Kellett needs to prove he can consistently be inside the Top 15. I see a few Top 15 finishes at places like Gateway and Nashville, but need to see more out of Kellett to say he will score a Top 10 or two.

I love the excitement level and new eyes Calderon will bring to IndyCar in 2022. Not only because she is a female, but a world class driver with a great following from her time racing in Formula 3 and GP3 over the last several years. It’s fantastic to have a female in the series and after showing speed in her test last summer at Mid-Ohio, Calderon will be a driver to keep your eye on this season.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Gather all the data and info you can, limit your mistakes and maximize the track time you have this season. Running only the road courses, Calderon will have to get comfortable fast in 2022. Learning every session and staying on pace with the other rookies are realistic goals for Calderon.

PROJECTION: Her and teammate Kyle Kirkwood will be fun to watch. Calderon can compete for top 10 finishes this season and if she doesn’t overdrive the car, I expect a Top 10 or two.

Kirkwood will be a very popular rookie with plenty to prove in 2022. After 10 wins and the Indy Lights championship in 2021, Kirkwood signed on at A.J. Foyt Racing in 2022. All ten of those wins came on road and street courses and the expectations this season are high for the 23 year old Floridian.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Keep pace and get a handle on the car itself. Improve on the ovals and get comfortable quickly. There is a high level of expectations for Kirkwood, who some feel can help elevate the performance of the Foyt Racing cars this season.

PROJECTION: Kirkwood will compete for the rookie of the year and should deliver multiple top 10 finishes for the team. If Foyt can put a competitive car underneath him, Kirkwood has the talent to maximize it.

CHAMPIONSHIP PROJECTION ODDS

DALTON KELLETT +6000
KYLE KIRKWOOOD +6000