Foyt gets AGR call for finale.

AJ Foyt IV has been handed a plum ride for the final round of this year's Indy Racing League Indycar championship, having been called up to replace the injured Dario Franchitti at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend.

Franchitti sustained a concussion during practice for last weekend's Goodwood Revival Meeting in England, and doctors have suggested that he give the season finale a miss, allowing Foyt to drive the #27 Klein Tools/Canadian Club Dallara-Honda.

Sunday's race will mark the 48th IndyCar start of Foyt's career and the first since the California Speedway round of last year's championship. A perennial backmarker during his time with the family team, the American is a strange choice to fill in at such a high-profile team as AGR, but team owner Michael Andretti is confident that the youngster will transcend previous performances.

"We're looking forward to having Anthony in the Klein Tools/Canadian Club car this weekend," he said, "It's unfortunate that Dario won't be able to drive, but we're confident that Anthony will do a great job for us. He's got a lot of natural talent and we're hoping to give him a fast car this weekend."

Having been out of an IRL car for almost a year, Foyt will participate in a refresher test at Chicagoland on Thursday afternoon, but is looking forward to his unexpected break.

"I'm very excited to have an opportunity like this," he admitted, "AGR is obviously a great race team and it should be a very competitive car on Sunday. We're going to be able to do this at a place where I've got a lot of laps and I expect to have a good, strong weekend."

Missing Chicagoland could call time on Franchitti's IRL career following reports that he is Champ Car bound for 2007. Although no official word has been received regarding the Scot's future, he has been tabbed as a potential replacement for the injured Cristiano da Matta at RuSPORT for the remainder of the current season, and has admitted to including Champ Cars in his talks for next year. How his current status will affect the RuSPORT ride remains to be seen, however.