Foyt IV wins first Infiniti race

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KANSAS CITY, Kan., July 7 (UPI) -- Auto racing's newest winner bears Indy car racing's most famous name.

A.J. Foyt IV -- the 18-year-old grandson of the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, A.J. Foyt Jr. -- won the inaugural race in the Infiniti Pro Series Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

The younger Foyt led Sunday's 100-mile race three times for 63 laps. Ronnie Johncox was the only other race leader, doing so twice for a total of four laps.

The race was marred by a third-lap crash involving New Zealander Matthew Halliday, who crashed hard into the second turn wall.

Halliday was transported to KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., where he was to be held overnight with a concussion and a broken left wrist. A CAT scan was negative.

Halliday's car twitched and headed straight into the second turn wall. The impact was hard all four wheels came off the car, although the driver compartment on the Dallara/Infiniti remained intact.

Foyt dominated the race and took the lead for good on the 45th lap. He finished 2.2197 seconds ahead of actor Jason Priestley. Cory Witherill, who started last in the 12-car field, finished third followed by Mike Koss and Ed Carpenter.

"That was a real good race, a lot of good drivers out there, good wheel-to-wheel action and good for the fans," the younger Foyt said. "Hopefully, we can get this series going for the next race and the next season."