Hitting the Jackpot Twice in One DayBy A.J. Foyt
 Sunday
at Kansas Speedway was a day that I will remember for a long time. We
hit the Harrah's jackpot twice that day, winning in the Indy Racing
Infiniti Pro Series and the Indy Racing League. Kansas Speedway's
Victory Circle was beginning to look like home to me.
My grandson A.J. Foyt IV, who at 18 was the youngest driver competing
that day, won his first major race driving the Harrah's No. 14 car in
the Kansas 100. It was the inaugural race of the Infiniti Pro Series,
a development series for the IRL. He dominated the weekend, winning
the pole position the day before at a speed over 180 mph.
I was so happy for him I could have cried and probably did. But that
didn't last too long.
As I was leaving his post-race press conference, A.J. IV asked me if I
still wanted him to work the Indy car race as Airton Dare's right
front tire changer. I told him, "Hell yeah, just because you won a
race, it doesn't mean you don't have to work."
Dare didn't dominate the weekend like A.J. IV, but he came up with the
same result, winning his first ever Indy car race in the No. 14
Harrah's Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone car. Airton was so excited that
when I got to Victory Circle, he climbed onto the Harrah's race car
and leaped into my arms.
I was shocked and a little worried that my legs would give out. I
never had a driver do that before. I've seen the NASCAR drivers leap
onto their crew, you know a bunch of guys, usually young guys, not
just one worn-out crippled old team owner. I guess he was happy to see
me.
I was really happy for both of my Harrah's teams and glad that it
worked out like it did, winning at a track where there was a Harrah's
property nearby. Harrah's brought in over 150 guests to the race so I
know they got a thrill.
This was the first win for A.J. IV, Airton and for Harrah's as my
major sponsor in Indy cars. And there were some guys on my crew who
had never won before. I know I've won my fair share of races over the
years but the thrill of winning is always like the first time. Seeing
others experience it for the first time makes it even better for me.
Watching A.J. IV's race though, I never thought he had it in the bag
because when the others started drafting, he was a sitting duck. They
were all taking their best shots at him. I just kept telling him to
keep it tight, meaning run low and make them go around you. A couple
times Ronie Johncox did sneak by but A.J. IV hung tough and took the
lead back again. It was a nail-biter for most of the race because they
were running side-by-side at speeds over 180 mph. My grandson had
never run that fast in his life and had never run wheel to wheel at
those speeds. But he handled it like a pro and never lost his cool. I
wish I could say the same.
I know that race wore me out more than it did him, which was a good
thing because after his press interviews he had to go change into his
crew uniform for the Indy car race. He changes the right front tire on
Airton Dare's car.
The whole Harrah's crew did a great job too because our pitstops were
all under 10 seconds. Airton qualified sixth which was his best start
since he joined my team. He was never out of the top 10 the whole day
and in the top five for most of it.
Airton's move on that last restart was criticized by the guy who
finished second but all I can say is that boy was caught snoozin' on
the restart and when you snooze, you lose.
Airton only led three laps of 200 while A.J. IV led 63 of 67 laps.
Airton didn't lead nearly as many laps as A.J. IV did--but they both
led the lap that counts.
For both of them to hit the jackpot for the first time on the same day
with me as their team owner, well it doesn't get any better than that!
I won't be the only one to remember that day! |
