Northern Light IRL: Foyt gives Beechler another chance in Texas
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 7, 2001
INDIANAPOLIS - A.J. Foyt hopes that payback can be rich for Donnie Beechler.
Beechler will drive for four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Foyt in the Casino Magic 500 on June 9 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, north of Foyt's headquarters and home in Houston. Beechler, from Springfield, Ill., will be behind the wheel of the No. 11 Harrah's A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone at Texas, racing for the winner's share of the $1-million-plus purse.
This will be the second consecutive race that Beechler will drive for Foyt, as he finished 25th at the Indianapolis 500. But that finish in his first start of the season was deceiving.
Beechler jumped into the backup car of Foyt's primary driver, Eliseo Salazar, on the final day of Indianapolis 500 qualifying May 20 and earned the 27th starting spot with a four-lap average of 224.449 mph, the fifth-fastest qualifying run of the event.
USAC short-track standout Beechler ran in the top 10 for most of the middle laps of the race but was forced to pit on Lap 148 with an oil leak. The leak ended his day after 160 laps.
"I thought Donnie drove a hell of a race for me at Indy," Foyt said. "I felt bad that we had mechanical problems with his car, and I wanted to give him another shot."
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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