AJ Foyt jr

Forget the somewhat sad veteran in the twilight of his career; A.J.Foyt Jr was one of the most exciting American racing drivers of modern history. He won the USAC National Championship on a record seven occasions and was the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.

To consider how he compared against GP racing’s elite at the time you need to analyse the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours – a race he won. Sharing a works Ford GT40 with Dan Gurney, he matched his well-regarded countryman for pace and endurance. Add to that success his victories in the 1972 Daytona 500 and the story of a versatile, supremely fast and successful driver is complete.

Background and early success

Anthony Joseph Foyt Sr was a car builder who built his son’s first racing car when the youngster was just three. Jr dropped out of high school to follow him into the sport and started racing in 1956. Success in midgets and sprint cars led to his finishing ninth on his Indycar debut at Springfield a year later. He crashed a Dean Van Lines Kuzma-Offenhauser on his first appearance at Indianapolis in 1958 but podium finishes marked a new talent.

His growing reputation was enhanced during 1959 and Foyt became the youngest national champion so far with victory in 1960 with the Bowes Seal Fast Meskowski-Offy. He added a first Indianapolis 500 victory a year later in A.J.Watson’s roadster as he retained the title to confirm America’s biggest star.

Victories at Le Mans and Daytona

Foyt withstood the "British Invasion" of the likes of Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill to win another three national titles during the 1960s. That period included further Indy 500 victories in 1964 and 1967 and pole position for the race in 1965 and 1969 as he was always a factor. Foyt also prepared his own engines from 1967 and enjoyed success outside the series. He won the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours and 1968 USAC stock car title for Ford and dominated the 1972 Daytona 500 with a Wood Brothers Mercury.

Fourth Indy 500 victory

On pole again for the 1974 and 1975 Indy 500s, he won the 1975 IndyCar Series and recorded a historic fourth Indianapolis 500 victory two years later. When American open-wheel was fractured in the late 1970s by the breakaway from the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), Foyt remained loyal to previous sanctioning body USAC.

That unsettled period included his final open-wheel victories and a seventh title but Foyt eventually also transferred to CART. He broke his leg at Elkhart Lake in 1990 and retired from racing two years later. He continues as a feisty team owner alongside non-racing business interests that range from oil, car dealerships and funeral services.

A.J.Foyt Jr won more Indycar races than anyone else (67), started 35 consecutive Indy 500s and remains a giant of his sport in every respect.