Foyt IV, Manning Latest Indy 500 Veterans To Commit to Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational

A.J. Foyt IV and Darren Manning, both former drivers for the legendary A.J. Foyt, once again will join the 33 Indianapolis 500 veterans to compete in the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am during the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational June 16-18 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Three spots remain in the field for the 45-minute Pro-Am race Saturday, June 17 on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at IMS.

A.J. Foyt IV made six starts in the Indianapolis 500 between 2003-09. He is the youngest starter in the history of the race, making his debut on his 19th birthday in 2003. Foyt won the Indy Lights championship in 2002 for the team owned by his grandfather, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt.

Manning made four Indianapolis 500 starts between 2004-08. He won the Japanese Formula 3 championship in 1999 and served as a Formula One test driver for BAR Honda in 2000 before coming to America to compete in IndyCar.

Foyt, Manning and the other 31 drivers in the field will race machines from the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s Group 6 class, comprised of 1963-72 vintage Chevrolet Corvettes, Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs. Race officials may add other Group 6 marques, such as Porsche and Jaguar, for variety.

All 33 Indianapolis 500 veterans in the race will be paired with amateur drivers, splitting stints behind the wheel at their discretion.

Indy 500 veterans previously entered in the Pro-Am include Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., Jimmy Vasser, Willy T. Ribbs, Sarah Fisher, Davy Jones, Geoff Brabham, Lyn St. James and last year’s A and B Production winners, Robby Unser and Paul Tracy.

All the Indianapolis 500 veterans will practice in a special track session Friday, June 16. They will also be available for autographs and pictures during the pre-race fan pit walk just before their feature race Saturday.

In addition to the Pro-Am, there will be a festival of other activities at the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, including the Hagerty Insurance “shine and show” car corral, a “Celebration of Vintage Motorcycles” with vintage motorcycle racing and displays and 500-plus vintage racers ranging more than 100 years of automotive history racing in SVRA Groups 1 through 12. An oval exhibition featuring a race car show of judged competition for the A.J. Watson and Sir Jack Brabham trophies led by IMS historian Donald Davidson also will take place.

The professional Trans Am series will compete as the feature race Sunday, June 18. Heading the pack will be series champion Amy Ruman, who has won the title the last two years.

Visit IMS.com to order tickets or learn more about the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational. Kids 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.