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California
By A.J. Foyt
   For
the foreseeable future, the Toyota Indy 400 was the final race for
the IRL IndyCar Series at California Speedway and it was the final
Indy car race for my grandson A.J. Foyt IV in the No. 14 ABC Supply
Dallara/Chevy.
The two-day weekend puts a premium on finding the right set-up
quickly. He was pretty happy with the ABC Supply Dallara going into
qualifying. Unfortunately, we had a problem with one of our computer
systems which prevented him from shifting during his run. Instead of
a top-10, he qualified 18th.
In the final practice on race morning, he was eighth quickest and
satisfied with the car. A rain shower and cooler temps made us
adjust the set-up a little but he seemed to like it as we went from
18th to 15th by picking off cars in just nine laps. When he came up
to Dan Wheldon, who was having a lot of problems with his car's
handling, the Indy 500 winner cut across and Anthony's car lost the
air which shot him to the wall which he brushed. We asked him about
it and he said the car was okay but actually it wasn't.
The right side suspension was bent and it started blistering the
right rear tire which we didn't know. He radioed in that the car was
getting loose and I asked him to hold on until we could fix it on
the pitstop. The next lap the car was in the wall coming off turn
two.
He hit hard enough that it totaled the car so when I got to the
infield care center I was a little worried because they took so long
to get him out of the car. But they assured me and his mom Nancy
that he was awake and alert and they were taking him to the hospital
to make sure nothing more serious had happened. He'd had some pain
in his knees but that's because he's so tall he bangs them when he
crashes.
At the hospital we saw him immediately and saw he was okay. He was
going to be sore and a little bruised but it was nothing serious.
The race didn't go as we'd planned and was certainly not the way
we'd hoped to end a four-year run of working together in both the
IndyCar Series and the IRL Infiniti Pro Series.
There were a lot of highs and lows over the past four years but
looking back on it all, I remember the fun times we had working
together. The obvious ones are the times we were in victory circle
but there were other good memories too. He's a character and has a
dry sense of humor so you never know what he's going to come out
with next.
There were some not so good memories but that is part of racing and
something that anyone who gets involved in this sport must be
willing to accept. Anthony has been very lucky to escape some of his
accidents without injury and I am very grateful (as I'm sure he is)
for that.
This weekend he starts on a new career in the NASCAR Busch Series at
Memphis Motorsports Park. Let me tell you, it will be a big
challenge. He'll drive the Akins Motorsports No. 38 Great Clips
Dodge which, as I understand it, is part of Ray Evernham's driver
development program. Evernham will supply motors and engineering
support as Anthony learns about the cars, the tracks and the drivers
in the Busch Series.
I know that Ray understands the challenges his rookie driver is
facing and, along with team owner Doug Stringer, they are willing to
give him the time he'll need to learn to drive a stock car. The
stock car is nearly a ton heavier, less responsive and on average
40-50 miles an hour slower than the Indy car he's been driving for
the past three years. He's tested a couple times and they've had
good things to say about his performance so I think he should have
some confidence going into this weekend.
Talent aside, Anthony's a good kid. He's different from me in a lot
of ways. He's young, skinny and has lots of hair. I'm known for my
hot temper and he's one of the most laid-back kids I know (which
sometimes drives me crazy). But for all of our differences, we share
one thing – we're both very competitive. We hate to lose -- at
anything.
Since we haven't won anything the last three years, it's been tough
on both of us. It was time for a change and I think we both knew
that when this opportunity came around earlier this year. I admit I
was reluctant to see him go but he was ready so I had to face that.
I'm nervous for him but I think he'll adjust to all the changes and
once again become the winner I know him to be.
As for our team, we must find a new driver for the No. 14 ABC Supply
Dallara in 2006. I've spoken to several drivers who are interested
and we'll try to decide in the next couple months who fits in the
best with our program.
This weekend the Foyt team is headed in all different directions.
Anthony is headed to Memphis to make his NASCAR debut. I'm pretty
sure my daughter-in-law Nancy will head that way to watch her
youngest child take on a new challenge. My team manager Craig
Baranouski and my son Tony are going on a hunting trip to Wyoming
that was planned long before Anthony's debut in Memphis. In fact he
was supposed to go with them. My crew chief Bill Spencer is headed
to Venice, Italy on trip put together by our chassis builder
Dallara. I'm not sure what the rest of my guys will be doing, maybe
just kicking back.
As for me, I think I may head to my ranch in Del Rio for a couple
days and relax. Or maybe do some work around my ranch outside of
Houston. I don't want to put any additional pressure on my grandson
by going to Memphis which I'm sure I'd do just by being there. But
you can bet I'll be watching the race on TV to check on the progress
of the Busch Series' newest rookie. |
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