Toyota and Ganassi announce IRL engine agreement.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced today that they have reached an agreement for Toyota to supply Indy Racing League (IRL) engines to the team beginning in 2003, the manufacturer's inaugural season of IRL competition.

The agreement ensures Toyota another top-level team, along with Penske Racing and Kelley Racing, in its quest for its first Indianapolis 500 victory and an IRL championship.

"Target Chip Ganassi Racing brought Toyota its first CART victory in 2000, and it only seems appropriate that we'd continue our successful relationship as we enter the Indy Racing League in 2003," said Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports. "In addition, it will allow Toyota to power the teams that have won the last three Indy 500s."

Target Chip Ganassi Racing has been to the Winner's Circle seven times in the past three seasons with Toyota power in CART competition with three different drivers registering victories.

The team won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Montoya and was victorious in the IRL event at Texas this past June. The Ganassi team has 48 open-wheel victories and four championships overall.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing will campaign two cars next season with 22-year-old standouts Scott Dixon and Tomas Scheckter scheduled to be behind the wheel. Dixon will be entering his third year with Toyota.

"I'm very happy to be back with the team for another year," Dixon explained. "This has been the best team in open-wheel racing for the last 10 years. Add that to a top-notch sponsor in Target, and an engine manufacturer that I've worked with since I moved up from Indy Lights in Toyota, and I think we have all the ingredients to win another championship for Target Chip Ganassi Racing."

TRD, U.S.A. commenced its operation in 1979 as the North American technical arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota's racing engines. Championship-caliber powerplants have been produced for various series including CART; IMSA; SCORE, MTEG and CORR off-road racing; Toyota Atlantic; NASCAR Goody's Dash; SCCA; and Pikes Peak. TRD also distributes a premium quality line of high-performance after market parts for Toyota products.