Not too long ago confirmed to drive Foyt’s #41 entry, subsequent yr will mark the Idaho native’s second season in North America’s premier open-wheel championship. He spent his rookie marketing campaign with Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, scoring a greatest results of twelfth within the finale at Laguna Seca.
In making the swap from Coyne to Foyt, Robb may even study a brand new powerband in transferring from Honda to Chevrolet. Moreover, although, he joins a staff that not too long ago shaped a technical alliance with Penske. In flip, he ought to have the possibility to watch knowledge and study from Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Energy as he continues his improvement.
“From what I hear, it should be actually beneficial,” mentioned Robb, 22. “Simply there the driving side, it permits me to be a younger learner with some nice leaders within the motorsport business like Scott, like Josef, like Will the place I can study their methods, type of the methods of the commerce in that sense.
“I imply, AJ Foyt Racing has carried out such job this final yr, I do not suppose that partnership is a one-way avenue. Each events are going to have the ability to enhance due to it.”
Robb then acknowledged the staff’s efficiency at Indianapolis 500, which noticed Santino Ferrucci beginning fourth and preventing for the win earlier than ending third and Benjamin Pedersen impress with an Eleventh-place qualifying outing.
Picture by: IndyCar Collection
Sting Ray Robb, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda
“ Santino’s outcomes from the five hundred, even Benjamin’s, we have gotten to see what the staff is able to doing and the development,” Robb mentioned.
“I am hoping by means of this partnership with Penske in addition to simply within the general pure development of the staff that we’ll proceed that trajectory ahead. There is not any doubt in my thoughts that we’ll. It is a matter of studying and placing that point in.”
There may be a lot for Robb to develop from in a rookie season that was filled with struggles that resulted in no prime 10s and a greatest begin of twenty first (Lengthy Seashore) in a discipline that frequently averaged 27 entries outdoors of the Indianapolis 500.
Analyzing the trials and challenges of the previous yr, Robb comes by means of higher for the experiences and is solely aiming to enhance from it.
“I believe rising off the expectations from final yr, it should be a giant key to our success this coming season,” Robb mentioned.
“Additionally simply specializing in areas of enchancment for the staff. It looks as if these vehicles are likely to have developments, dealing with perspective in addition to what you could be doing as a driver. There’s so much that we have realized or I’ve realized personally during the last yr simply on what these developments are.
“I am certain these developments will change with the brand new powerplant, such as you mentioned, the totally different tuning kinds that can go round that, the bundle constructed round that.
“Having that info not solely from AJ Foyt Racing however from Group Penske, I believe there’s so much to study forward of the season beginning. Going by means of some race knowledge, footage, no matter else there may be, attempt to study that forward of time, have that expectation constructed up so once we arrive on the observe, I am not getting within the automobile and have to regulate midway by means of the weekend, which tended to occur fairly just a few occasions this final season.”
If Robb’s junior method profession is any indication, this could dramatically enhance subsequent season.
Look no additional than Robb’s two years in Indy NXT, the highest improvement class that results in the IndyCar Collection. Driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing, he went win-less with one prime 5 and completed eighth within the general standings in 2021. Then, in 2022, he switched to Andretti World (then Andretti Autosport) and scored one win, eight podiums and two poles to complete runner-up for the championship. All of that’s a part of why discovering a journey to return for a second season may show very important.
“Yeah, it is tremendous essential,” mentioned Robb, the 2020 USF Professional 2000 champion.
“I believe environments play a giant a part of success in any athlete. You have a look at baseball groups the place gamers will get transferred from staff to staff. They will have success with one staff however not the opposite, but it surely’s nonetheless the identical participant. You discuss race vehicles, they’re arrange in another way than all the things else.
“That atmosphere performs a giant half. A part of the explanation we wished to be with AJ Foyt Racing is as a result of we all know their atmosphere is sweet, they’ve good personnel round them. Like I mentioned, I’ll maintain bringing that up, that upward trajectory. I need to get on that bandwagon, journey that to the highest.
“I am enthusiastic about what the staff has carried out within the current historical past and what they’ll proceed to do sooner or later.”
