In recognition of A. J. Foyt s 50th anniversary season in Indy car racing, we ll look at some of the highlights of the past 50 years.
• Foyt Fact: On April 8, 1979, Foyt wins the USAC Indy car event at College Station, Texas in route to his seventh and final Indy car championship.
• Did you know?: A.J. Foyt s first season was his least lucrative season. He made only $2,171 in 1957.
• Foyt-Lore: Jeff Simmons, driver, No. 17 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol Dallara/Honda/Firestone. “I used to read books about A. J. Foyt when I was younger, and he s still racing. I remember the way he used to manhandle a car and make it do what he wanted to do. Driving for him was a great honor. Without him, I wouldn t have the opportunity to drive in the IndyCar Series. I drove his Indy Pro Series car (in 2004), but he allowed me to drive his IndyCar Series car for Rookie Orientation. If that wouldn t have happened, I wouldn t have gotten a chance to drive for Mo Nunn in the 500 and I wouldn t be driving an IndyCar Series car now. He was the one who put me in a car and set me loose, and I will always be in his debt for that. ”
Racing icons A. J. Foyt and Dan Gurney are among the five people who will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on Oct. 16 in New York.
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