Dalton Kellett has confirmed that his time as a driver for AJ Foyt’s IndyCar team has come to an end.
Kellett advanced through the Road to Indy ladder, and has raced with Foyt since joining IndyCar in 2020. His first season was a part time effort, but he has contested the past two seasons in the #4 entry full time.
He often used his time in the premiere series to promote STEM, and appealed to the technical side of the sport that his degree in engineering physics helped him to understand.
With Foyt deciding to go a new direction with the incoming rookie Benjamin Pedersen, and also signing the controversial Santino Ferrucci to a full time ride, there was no place left for Kellett to remain at the team.
“I have made the decision not to continue with AJ Foyt Racing in the #4 Chevrolet,” Kellett said Tuesday on social media. “This is not a conclusion I came to lightly, as both the team and I have dedicated time and effort to putting together a program for 2023. However, at this point, it isn’t the right opportunity for me to move forward.
“My genuine and heartfelt thanks go out to AJ, Larry, and the entire Foyt team. I will always be grateful for my start in IndyCar and will leave their organization with amazing memories.
“In my time with the team, I grew as a person and a competitor and am proud of my contributions to their program. Being the underdog team is never easy, but we had some moments to be very proud of.
“I do not have any immediate updates on my 2023 plans. Until then, I also want to extend a big thank you to the AJ Foyt Racing fans; you all made my time with the team so special! I can’t think of another team with such a dedicated following, it was an honour to be part of something that you all hold dear.”
The Canadian was never able to break through to produce strong results in the three years in the series, despite a doubled-up effort on his part for the 2022 season.
His best results came on the oval rounds, where he was able to finish in 12th at Gateway in 2021 and finished 17th at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year.
By stepping away from Foyt, it seems unlikely that Kellett will have a seat in IndyCar next season. There are very few seats left available by this time, and he has not been part of any public discussions with other teams.
It is uncertain if the 29-year-old will find himself driving in other series in the future, or if he will put his engineering skills to use in the next chapter of his career.
