Toyota to announce IRL pullout

UPDATE Overheard at Daytona during Rolex 24 testing – one high ranking Toyota official expressing his displeasure with the IRL, possibly setting the stage for their announcement to withdraw from the series after Indy. 12/13/04 Sources close to Toyota are saying that the company will announce its withdrawal from the IRL after the 2005 Indy 500. Yes, they will honor their contract through 2006, but they will, like Chevy who announced they are out after 2005, announce their withdrawal from the series before their contract runs out. Expect to hear Toyota's Nextel Cup plans announced around the same time. If this rumor is true, that leaves Honda alone to supply the entire field. We simply don't expect Honda to do that for long because they like competition.