AJ Foyt IV to race in Infiniti Pro Series.

It can't be too bad having a living legend as a grandfather: especially when that grandfather is AJ Foyt and your birthday present is the announcement that you will be racing in the Infiniti Pro Series this year.

The first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 announced he would field a car in the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series this season for A.J. Foyt IV, who turned 18 on May 25.

"I'm really happy to be running a whole series where I run for the points," said young Foyt, who competed in selected USAC Silver Crown events last year. "I like the idea of running the bigger cars, and I'm glad we tested the Indy car at Phoenix because that got my confidence up. I was able to run that car consistently, so I know I'll be able to handle the Infiniti Pro Series car."

Said A.J. Foyt: "A.J. IV has run in karts, F2000 cars and even a couple Silver Crown races, and I just felt like this was a good opportunity for him. The Infiniti Pro Series runs on the same tracks as the Indy Racing League so I can be there while he's learning. Also, he'll be running cars made by Dallara, which also builds the Indy cars I run. I was very impressed with the way he ran my Indy car at a test earlier this year. I think it will be good preparation for the Indy Racing League, which is where he wants to run."

Young Foyt will drive a No. 14 Infiniti-powered Dallara in the series' inaugural season, which starts July 7 at Kansas Speedway. Foyt will race the full schedule.

"There may be a little more pressure on me because I'm his grandson," A.J. Foyt IV said of his family racing heritage. "But I don't think he'll be all that hard on me. He'll just tell me all the things I do wrong, pretty much like he treats his other drivers, which is both good and bad. But I know it's all to help me become a better driver."

Young Foyt, who graduates from high school in June, has won championships in the World Karting Association and International Karting Federation and most recently the SCCA Formula Continental Series in the Southwest. He turned laps in his grandfather's No. 11 Indy Racing League car in February 2002 when the team tested at Phoenix International Raceway.

The inaugural season of the Infiniti Pro Series will begin July 7 at Kansas Speedway and culminate with the Sept. 14 season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.