No matter what, Toyota out of Open Wheel

Jim Aust, president of Toyota Racing Development, stated that no matter what engine formula the IndyCar Series chooses for the future — or if by some chance there is a unification with Champ Car — Toyota is getting out of American open-wheel racing at the end of 2006.

"This is a decision the company has looked at long and hard and felt this was the way to proceed," Aust said. "It's always a tough decision when you look at continuing a program. This is an issue we had been looking at for quite awhile and we knew that eventually the day was going to be before us. Our plans are to focus on this program as much as we have and also to continue to run in the Craftsman Truck Series. Anything beyond that at this point is totally speculative.

"Any kind of reorganization or joining (of Champ Car and IRL) doesn't look like it would make it an option for us," he added. "We've been in open-wheel racing in the United States for going on 12 years now and I think the program had run its course. The decision was made to look at some other options and we're still looking at those." ESPN.com