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IndyCar: Five surprises from the 2017 season

By Mike Knapp

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Simon Pagenaud of France driver of the #1 DXC Technology Chevrolet crosses the finish line in first place to win the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 17, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Simon Pagenaud of France driver of the #1 DXC Technology Chevrolet crosses the finish line in first place to win the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 17, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Carlos Munoz, driver of the #14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Carlos Munoz, driver of the #14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

A.J. Foyt Enterprises become a ghost

Heading into the 2017 season, A.J. Foyt Enterprises looked to have a little bit of momentum. The team had signed two solid drivers in Conor Daly and Carlos Munoz and had decided to switch from Honda to Chevrolet engines. While an adjustment period is the norm, it became a lost year for one of racing’s most famous teams.

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It was a struggle all year as the team never qualified well and that reflected on their performance in the races. Between the two drivers, they only cracked the top 10 on ten occasions. Munoz was 16th in points and was Daly 18th, giving them two of the lowest three spots of the 18 drivers who competed in all 17 races.

That led to a complete turnover of Foyt’s driver lineup. 2004 IndyCar champion and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan will take over for Munoz in the No. 14 machine. Matheus Leist, a 19-year-old Brazilian, will pilot the No. 4 machine. He posted three wins and finished fourth in points in Indy Lights in 2017.

Kanaan is still a talent and Leist posted seven wins in his last two junior series seasons. Will that change Foyt’s fortunes? It may, and the new aerokit for 2018 levels the playing field, too.

Next: 5 reasons destroying Walt Disney World Speedway was a mistake

Who knows? Maybe A.J. Foyt Enterprises will be on this list for the 2018 season, but for their success instead. This list only scratches the surface of IndyCar surprises from the 2017 season. What are a few others?