AJ Foyt Racing splits with Benjamin Pedersen with team saying pair's contract 'lapsed'

AJ Foyt Racing team president Larry Foyt says the team's multi-year contract with Benjamin Pedersen the pair announced just over a year ago "has lapsed," leading to the two-car program signing Santino Ferrucci to finalize its 2024 IndyCar lineup.

Last month, hours after Foyt announced the signing of Sting Ray Robb to its No. 41 Chevrolet program, to be run out of its Speedway, Indiana, shop -- the location Pedersen's No. 55 Chevy operated from a year ago -- Pedersen attempted to stake a claim for the team's other ride for 2024 by publicly congratulating Robb on social media on joining him at the team for the next season, given the public knowledge of his multi-year deal.

In the run-up to the 2023 season finale, there was speculation within the IndyCar paddock that a split between Pedersen and Foyt could be coming, despite the previously announced multi-year deal, though Larry Foyt told IndyStar he didn't expect there to be any change to the pair's relationship heading into the following campaign.

Notably, Pedersen finished last in full-season driver points, and his No. 55 Chevy similarly finished last among 27 full-time cars in entrant points in his rookie campaign that included six DNFs and just two finishes better that 20th in 17 starts.

It's presently unclear what led to the split between the Pedersen and the Foyt squad, though Larry Foyt offered this statement to IndyStar Tuesday when asked about the pair's relationship: "My agreement with Mr. Pedersen lapsed by its own terms. I wish him well in his future endeavors."

IndyStar is awaiting comment from Pedersen.