In a heralded 50th Anniversary Season-long celebration of auto racing legend A. J. Foyt’s involvement in Indy car racing in 2007, The Milwaukee Mile returned to its traditional date on the IndyCar Series schedule to a place it held on 49 prior occasions, the Sunday following the Indianapolis 500.
Today, A.J. Foyt Enterprises and ABC Supply Co., Inc. have announced with Mile officials the renewal of the ABC Supply / A. J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race entitlement at America’s Legendary Oval, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, June 1, 2008. Practice and qualifying activities will take place on Saturday, May 31.
Since the inaugural IndyCar Series race was held at The Mile in 2004, Foyt has granted the track permission to use his name in the race entitlement. Foyt has driven in more races at The Milwaukee Mile than at any other track in his storied career.
“I am honored to be part of the IndyCar Series race at The Milwaukee Mile in such a significant way and am grateful for my sponsor ABC Supply’s continued support of the ABC Supply / A. J. Foyt 225. Together I hope we can make the 2008 race the best one ever,” Foyt said.
The response was overwhelmingly positive a year ago when it was announced The Milwaukee Mile IndyCar Series date would move to the historically significant date the Sunday following the Indianapolis 500.
“The tradition continues of having A. J. Foyt and ABC Supply Company involved with our IndyCar Series event on what will be the 51st occasion of The Milwaukee Mile hosting the IndyCar Series stars the Sunday following the Indy 500, and we couldn’t be happier for our fans,” commented Craig Stoehr, Milwaukee Mile chairman.
The ABC Supply Co., Inc. -backed A. J. Foyt Racing entry with veteran IndyCar Series driver Darren Manning finished with two top-five and five top-ten outings on their way to earning 13th in the championship driver standings in 2007.
The 2008 event marks the fourth straight year ABC Supply Co., Inc. will sponsor A. J. Foyt Racing in the IndyCar Series and return as the entitlement sponsor of The Milwaukee Mile’s IndyCar Series event.
The challenging 2008 IndyCar Series schedule was released today, with The Milwaukee Mile hosting one of 11 oval races, with an additional three events contested on permanent road courses and on two on temporary street circuits.
In the unprecedented 50 occasions the Indianapolis 500 has been followed on the schedule by an IndyCar Series race at The Mile, eight drivers have been able to score the rare double in winning both races: 1956 – Pat Flaherty; 1964 – A. J. Foyt; 1971 – Al Unser; 1974 – Johnny Rutherford; 1982 – Gordon Johncock; 1983 – Tom Sneva; 1988 - Rick Mears; and 1994 – Al Unser, Jr.
Last June’s spirited ABC Supply / A. J. Foyt 225 made several headlines, as polesitter Helio Castroneves appeared to be on his way to his first Mile victory until a rear wing support failure, with the same issue taking his teammate and 2006 Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish out of contention.
A widely publicized post-race altercation between driver Dan Wheldon being confronted by Danica Patrick on pit road caused quite a stir, as Patrick believed she was cut-off by Wheldon while racing for position during the race and she let him know she wasn’t pleased.
And a week after nearly winning his first Indy 500, veteran Tony Kanaan stayed in contention all afternoon to score his second consecutive Milwaukee Mile crystal trophy. Kanaan was the first driver to pull into the newly-christened A. J. Foyt Victory Lane at The Milwaukee Mile, as Foyt was bestowed the honor during pre-race ceremonies leading up to the ABC Supply / A. J. Foyt 225.
Ken Hendricks founded ABC Supply Co., Inc. over 25 years ago, and it has grown into America’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing and siding materials, tools and supplies. The company’s headquarters are located just 70 miles west and south of The Mile in Beloit, Wisconsin. Visit www.abcsupply.com for more details.
The Milwaukee Mile is America’s oldest active speedway, with motorized racing events dating back to 1903. Many of the drivers that competed in the very first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 - and virtually every Indy 500 since - have competed in racing events at The Milwaukee Mile.
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