Radiohead’s song ‘Everything in Its Right Place’ came to mind when I heard Sting Ray Robb was finally headed to A.J. Foyt Racing. It might be a strange thing to say about the lanky kid from Idaho who did little to stand out during his rookie campaign with Dale Coyne Racing, but he’s a perfect fit for this team in transition.

On the surface, Foyt has signed another unremarkable driver who brings an almighty budget. There’s not much I can say to dispel both notions, and for those who find comfort in pessimism, Robb’s acquisition of Foyt’s for-hire No. 41 Chevy entry can be easily dismissed as nothing more than a ride buyer securing his place at the bottom of the grid.

There’s an underlying truth to acknowledge here, and that’s why Robb is such a meaningful selection by Foyt. With the rumored $8.5 million his faith-driven sponsors have assembled for the 22-year-old, Robb’s brought it to a team that has been on shaky financial ground for years. Forget the competition side of things for a moment and whether Robb will be fighting over podiums with Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood or giving headaches to Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay as they battle for top fives.

At its root, the pairing of Robb and Foyt means the spirited team, with its new technical alliance with Team Penske, has a budget that will allow it to do more, invest in more technology and R&D projects and, if all goes according to plan, give the team some flexibility on who it chooses to place in its primary No. 14 Chevy.

With Robb in the No. 41, Foyt no longer needs to chase another high-paying driver for the No. 14, and that means we’ll likely see Santino Ferrucci back for a second season with the team. I’ve also heard former Juncos Hollinger Racing ace Callum Ilott, who’s committed to the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class in 2024, could be welcomed into the team for some of the 10 races that don’t conflict with his hybrid Porsche 963 WEC outings.

If I’m Robb, who was one of the finer talents on the USF Championships and Indy Lights ladder, the prospect of going to Oval University with Ferrucci and Road Racing Master Class with Ilott sounds like the perfect curriculum with amazing educators, if that’s the direction Foyt takes next season.

The great part for Robb is he’s been given the opportunity to show that he’s more than a walking wire transfer. Aside from whomever he’ll have as teammates, he’ll also have one of IndyCar’s great engineers in Foyt technical director Michael Cannon, whose knack for working with young and developing drivers has been transformational for the likes of A.J. Allmendinger, Ferrucci, and others during his decades on CART, Champ Car, and IndyCar timing stands.

Of all the technical groups Robb could join, this one – with Cannon at the center to help extract and shape more skills and speed – is yet another perfect fit for him as he looks to break free from the lower finishing positions at each race. We don’t yet know how much talent Robb has compared to IndyCar’s other young and more accomplished drivers, but we’ll get a much better feel for it next year in the No. 41 Chevy.

So, yes, there’s no escaping the huge payday that comes with Robb and which drew the interest of Andretti, Coyne, and the rest of the paddock who took meetings with his manager Pieter Rossi. And now that he’s settled in at Foyt, I’m delighted for the kid and the team. Robb’s right where he’s needed most and is exactly where he belongs.

If you’re prone to practice optimism, the pairing of Robb with Foyt, Cannon, and that technical support from Team Penske could deliver a few surprises over the next 17 races.

He ended his relatively anonymous rookie campaign in 23rd place; if he’s anywhere in the mid-to-high teens by the close of the championship, we’ll have a reason to dial down the pay-driver rhetoric and put some respect on his name.

The money opened the door. Now it’s up to Foyt and Robb to make us forget about the dollar signs and applaud their on-track achievements.