AJ Foyt Racing released a statement on Monday following the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, which saw their rookie driver, Benjamin Pedersen, in the No.55 Sexton Properties Chevrolet have Devlin DeFrancesco’s Andretti Autosport car fly over him on the opening lap of the race.
Though it may appear cracked, the aeroscreen withstood the impact and remained whole. Those lines are actually from the tear-offs being shredded. #INDYCAR | #FirestoneGP
— AJ Foyt Racing (@AJFoytRacing) March 6, 2023
It was a disappointing end to the weekend for the team, as both Benjamin Pedersen and teammate Santino Ferrucci retired from the race.
The INDYCAR Aerscreen, introduced in 2020, has shown how far the sport has come in recent years regarding motorsport safety enhancements. The series was the first racing category to present the SAFER barrier, which is now used in other forms of motorsport, and it also mandated the use of the HANS device.
An AJ Foyt Racing spokesperson confirmed to Paddock Eye on Monday evening that:
The tear-offs were shredded but the aeroscreen remained intact.
Next up for the team is the PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 2.