MIPS: AFS to run Luyendyk, Mennen at PIR.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. and G.J. Mennen will compete for AFS Racing in the Phoenix 100 March 19 at Phoenix International Raceway as the team returns to the Menards Infiniti Pro Series [MIPS] for its fourth season.

Luyendyk, son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, will pilot the #5 Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc. Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone.

"I'm very excited to race in Phoenix next Saturday," Luyendyk Jr. said. "With support from Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Joan Hubbard, and ScaleCars.com, along with a few returning sponsors from last year, we are ready for the challenge."

Luyendyk finished second in the MIPS in 2002. Last year, he finished third in the point standings, splitting his season between Sam Schmidt Motorsports and AFS Racing. He recorded six top-10 finishes, including four of his final five starts.

Luyendyk and team owner Gary Peterson tested the race cars at the 1-mile oval on March 10.

"It was a very beneficial test," Peterson said. "The information that we learned should definitely translate into better results on race day."

Peterson, who has started 22 races in the MIPS, will not participate in the Phoenix 100 due to a concussion he sustained at the end of the test session.

"Finding a replacement was easy," Peterson said. "All I had to do was call G.J. and ask him to drive the car. He jumped at the opportunity. He loves driving for AFS, and he will give us a solid result. G.J. has a lot of experience in these cars, not to mention that he drove the #25 car for us in 2003."

Mennen made 14 starts in the MIPS in 2002 and 2003, recording 12 top-10 finishes.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to race for AFS Racing again," he said. "I don't like that I won't be able to be out there racing with Gary, but I am truly honoured that he called me fill in for him."