IRL: Toyota to supply Hemelgarn

Toyota and Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing Announce IRL Engine Supply Agreement

TORRANCE, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2005) - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing announced today that they have reached an agreement for Toyota to supply Indy Racing League (IRL) engines to the team beginning in 2005.

The addition of Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing brings the total number of Toyota-powered entries in this year's IndyCar Series field to nine. Hemelgarn Racing is one of the original IndyCar Series teams with a motorsports history dating back to 1984. The team won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy Lazier.

"We're pleased to be working with one of the IRL's original teams in Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing and a bright young American talent in Paul Dana," said Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports. "This addition gives Toyota a fifth Indianapolis 500-winning team in our line-up for 2005."

After a successful second place finish in the IRL Pro Series in 2004, team owner Ron Hemelgarn is looking forward to returning to the IndyCar ranks with a one-car effort for Dana. Ethanol will be the primary sponsor on the #91 Toyota Dallara.

"We're very excited to be back in the IRL with Toyota power," said Hemelgarn. "Toyota is a proven winner and we're excited to be part of that winning tradition."

Toyota teams have won 13 of the 32 IndyCar Series races the manufacturer has competed in, and earned poles in exactly one half (16) of the events. In addition, in 2003 Toyota powered both Indianapolis 500 champion Gil de Ferran and series champion Scott Dixon, and earned the IndyCar Series engine manufacturer's championship.

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