Motorsport: Toyota to withdraw from IRL

Toyota delivered a major blow to the IRL yesterday, announcing the enginemaker will withdraw from the United States-based series after next season.

The pullout follows General Motors' decision last November to pull Chevrolet out of the IRL after this season.

It leaves dominant power plant manufacturer Honda as the lone enginemaker in the series in 2007.

Toyota's 2003 IRL debut was immediate as Toyota-powered Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, won the first race in Miami and captured the series crown in his rookie season, while Toyota-powered Brazilian Gil de Ferran won the Indianapolis 500.