IRL: Foyt shows no sign of slowing down despite hitting 65
14 January 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Text Provided by IMS
|
On Jan. 16, legendary driver/car owner Foyt celebrates his 65th birthday. Its just another bump in the road of life for this Texan whose name is synonymous with the sport of auto racing.
Instead of slowing down, hes speeding up.
In addition to campaigning a car in the Indy Racing League series, hes venturing into the NASCAR Winston Cup Series as a car owner for driver Mike Bliss. Bliss turned the sixth-fastest speed of 184.192 mph in his No. 14 Conseco Financial Pontiac during testing Jan. 11 at Daytona International Speedway.
Victory in the future is always what youre looking for, Foyt told the media. I still have so much Id like to accomplish as a team owner and success at Daytona and in Winston Cup is high on the list.
So is winning another Indy Racing League championship and a sixth Indianapolis 500, including a record four as a driver. Foyt driver Scott Sharp shared the title in the initial Indy Racing League season in 1996, and Kenny Brack won it outright for Foyt in 1998. Last May, Brack returned Foyt to Victory Circle at Indy for the fifth time with a fast and steady drive.
Foyt drove in 35 consecutive Indy 500s, a record that probably will never be broken. During his career he started in 928 open-wheel and stock-car races, not to mention a number of endurance events that brought him victory at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring. He recorded 172 major victories and won 12 championships.
Following is a brief accounting of his career: Indy Car (369 starts) - First race, Aug. 17, 1957, at Springfield, Ill., No. 56 Hoover Motor Express; started 16th, finished ninth.
Indianapolis 500 (35 starts) - First race, May 30, 1958, No. 29 Dean Van Lines; started 12th, finished 16th. Last race, May 24, 1992, No. 14 Foyt/Copenhagen; started 23rd, finished ninth (retired on Pole Day, 1993, after his driver Robby Gordon crashed in morning practice).
Midget (129 starts) - First race, May 29, 1956, at 16th Street Speedway in Indianapolis, No. 2 A.J. Foyt; started sixth, finished 13th. Last race, Sept. 7, 1975, at Terre Haute Action Track, No. 98 Howard Linne; started first, finished 26th.
Sprint (136 starts) - First race, Aug. 11, 1957, at Salem, Ind., No. 6 Eph Hoover; started seventh, finished seventh. Last race, May 24, 1974, at Indiana State Fairgrounds (double-header) No. 11 Snyder/Foyt; started eighth and first, finished first in both features.
USAC stocks (148) - First race, Feb. 5, 1961, at Arizona State Fairgrounds, No. 88 H. Richardson; started eighth, finished 20the. Last race, Nov. 11, 1979, at Texas World Speedway, No. 51 A.J. Foyt; started first, finished fourth.
Silver Crown (18) - First race, Aug. 22, 1971, at Springfield, Ill., No. 9 A.J. Foyt; started 10th, finished first. Last race, Sept. 11, 1982, at Indiana State Fairgrounds, No. 14 A.J. Foyt; started 13th, finished 19th.
NASCAR Winston Cup (128) - First race, Jan. 20, 1963, Riverside, Calif., No. 02 Ray Nichels Pontiac; started second, finished second; last race, Aug. 6, 1994, Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, No. 50 Copenhagen Ford; started 40th, finished 30th.
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