Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indy 500

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Disappointing Day for Foyt Family

Disappointment ran deep in the Foyt garage after both A.J. IV and Larry Foyt failed to finish in the 88th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Their early exits netted them the final two places, 33rd and 32nd.

Due to inclement weather, the race took two hours to get started. However, Foyt IV's race appeared to end after just 10 laps when he brushed the wall in turn four and never made it through turn one. He spun (due to the damage sustained in the previous corner) and backed into the wall hard. He emerged unhurt.

"First, I hit the wall coming out of Turn 4," the 20-year-old explained. "I thought everything was OK, but when I got into (Turn) 1, I found out it wasn't. It was pretty stupid on my part."

A rain delay after 27 laps gave Team Conseco time to fix the No. 14 Dallara/Toyota with parts from the back-up car. They worked feverishly to replace the nose, right front suspension, entire rear suspension, rear wing and both sidepods.

Foyt IV re-entered the race 17 laps down. He started even further back from the pack because he ducked into the pits to top off his fuel as the race restarted. However, as he tried to feel the car out after the major overhaul, the leaders were quickly upon him.

"We could not really get anything going out there," said Foyt IV. "I was in the way every lap. I couldn't really get comfortable in the car, so there's no sense in staying out there in everybody's way. So we decided to quit. It wasn't my safety. It didn't have anything to do with that. It was a matter of being in everybody's way and also trying to put a car together. My crew did a great job, but you need more time to prepare a car than that."

Foyt IV was credited with an additional 16 laps, giving him a total of 26 for the day.

Larry didn't fare much better in his first Indy 500 start. The rookie struggled with the car's handling from the beginning of the race. On lap 55, he was in traffic when he was pushed up into the marbles and slid into the wall in turn two. His G-Force/Dallara car was not repairable.

"I just got up in the marbles," said Larry. "My car was bad all day and they got under me in (Turn) 2, and that took me into the fence. We just missed on our race set-up. I was fighting to hang on every lap."

Fortunately for both Foyts they walked away from their accidents as did the seven other drivers with similar fates.

It was a day that built character into the lives of the two young drivers with a classic last name in motorsports. Moments after emerging from the infield medical center, both young Foyts gave interviews in which they took the blame for their separate crashes which essentially ended their chances for a strong finish in a race that means everything to their family. And they knew the toughest interview was yet to come from the family patriarch, A.J. Foyt.

"It was just one of those days," said A.J. Foyt. "We were the first ones to start the craziness but we weren't the only ones. The weather didn't help out either, it's been crazy all month. I'm pretty mad at my drivers because they pushed too hard instead of waiting till we could get the cars right for them. They knew what they did wrong. But I am proud of my team in the way they got the Conseco car back together so quickly. They did a helluva job!"

Nine cars (six of which were driven by rookies) crashed during the race that was shortened to 180 laps or 450 miles due to rain. The race took 5 hours, 2 minutes, 33.2395 seconds to complete which included the 1:47 rain delay after 27 laps.

Buddy Rice, who won the pole two weeks earlier, earned his first Indianapolis 500 victory in a Cinderella-like drive for Team Rahal. Rice joined the team this year as a substitute for 1999 Indy 500 winner (in A.J.'s car) Kenny Brack who is still recovering from injuries sustained last October at Texas Motor Speedway.

The next race for the Indy Racing League is ‘under the lights' at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 12th.
 

NOTES & QUOTES: INDIANAPOLIS 500

A.J. Foyt IV: Conseco No. 14 Dallara/Toyota/Firestone
Larry Foyt: No. 41 G-Force/Toyota/Firestone

Pole Day at Indy: Eleven years to the day, A.J. Foyt retired from driving Indy cars at Indianapolis on Pole Day, May 15, 1993. This year he will watch his son Larry qualify for his first Indy 500 and grandson A.J. IV make his second appearance in the historic event.

A.J. Foyt on his kids: "I think this will be one of the biggest thrills of my life–getting both boys running fast and getting them qualified for the most important race in the world. It is the thrill of my lifetime to have two Foyts follow in my footsteps. It's something I never expected because I never really wanted them to race because it is such a hard life. But it's what they want and you know, life is short. They're both really good boys, they've done everything I've asked of them so I'm going to back them 100%. I'm very happy for both of them."

Another First for Foyt: With A.J. IV and Larry driving, this Indy 500 will be the first time that two Foyt drivers ever shared the same track. When A.J. began racing midgets in the early 1950's, he occasionally raced a midget against his father Tony's team, which began fielding midgets in the late 30s. It was Tony Foyt's passion for racing that kindled the son's interest and became the genesis of one the great careers in auto racing. First four-time 500 winner Foyt holds the record for most Indy 500 starts (all consecutive) at 35, having run from 1958 through 1992.

The Young and the Aged: Both A.J.s hold the age records for the Indy 500: A.J. Jr. is the oldest (57) driver and A.J. IV the youngest (19) to compete in the 500.

A.J. Foyt IV on Indy Open Test: "We tested the Conseco Dallara at the Speedway April 27-28. We threw a lot of different set-ups at the car and learned what we needed to have a good baseline for the month."

Foyt IV on Indy: "Indy is pretty special to every race driver I think. It's special to me because of my grandfather and all that he has accomplished at that track. Our family has been there forever." In fact, this 500 marks the 47th straight year that A.J. Foyt will participate at Indy in May. This race will mark A.J. IV's 20th start in Indy cars. He will turn 20 on May 25, five days before the May 30th race.

Larry Foyt on driving in the Indy 500: "I'm really looking forward to it. I'm excited but I'm not really all that nervous or worried. I know that there will be ups and downs during the month but I feel like I've been waiting my whole career for this chance so I'm taking it all in and embracing it."

Larry Foyt's No. 41: The Toyota-powered G-Force that Larry will drive is painted the same color "Warm Poppy Red" that graced his father's Coyotes (the name given the Foyt-built chassis) in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Advice to Larry from A.J. IV: "I told him that it's going to be a long month and he needs to be patient in the beginning. There's no need to take risks in the beginning when you're still trying to sort things out. He just needs to be patient with himself and the car."

Kentucky Derby winners: Following the open test at Indy, A.J. took his son Larry and grandson A.J. IV to the Kentucky Derby. It was Larry's first trip to the Derby and A.J. IV's second in a row. All three placed their money on winner "Smarty Jones" after the elder Foyt was introduced to Roy Chapman, the undefeated thoroughbred's owner, the evening before in a Louisville restaurant. "I had a blast!" said Larry of his inaugural trip to the Derby. "I can see why Dad goes every year. A lot of the traditions there are similar to Indy's and I think it's the tradition and history that makes the great sporting events great."
 

JEFF SIMMONS TO DRIVE FOR A.J. FOYT

IN THE FUTABA FREEDOM 100 AT INDY

HOUSTON May 6, 2004--Jeff Simmons will attempt to repeat A.J. Foyt's most recent victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 27-year-old Connecticut native will drive Foyt's No. 14 Delphi/Futaba Dallara in the Futaba Freedom 100 May 22nd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Foyt's car won the pole and the race with driver Ed Carpenter in the Infiniti Pro Series' inaugural event at the Speedway last year.

"I wanted to try to defend our title at Indy and Jeff was available so it seemed like a great opportunity," said Foyt. "Last year he was one of the ones we always had to try to beat in the Pro Series so I know how good a driver he is. I am looking forward to working with him this month."

"I grew up watching and reading about A.J. Foyt," said Simons. "A.J. has been a hero of mine ever since I started watching races. It is truly an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to drive for him--and at Indy nonetheless.

"When we first spoke about doing the Freedom 100, he said he was only taking the car out of the garage because he knows we have a good chance to win."

In addition to giving Simmons a one-off drive in the Infiniti Pro Series, Foyt allowed Simmons to use A.J. Foyt IV's Indy car to do the first three speed phases of the Rookie Orientation Program. By passing those segments of the test, Simmons becomes eligible to drive Indy cars at the Speedway although he must pass a final phase before he can attempt to qualify for the 500.

"A.J. gave me the chance to do the Indy 500 ROP in one of his Dallara/Toyota Indy cars," said Simmons. "I can't wait for the chance to show him how much I appreciate his confidence in me."

At this point, Simmons does not have a team lined up for the Indy 500.

The Boston College graduate finished second in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series standings with two victories, three second-place finishes and nine top-fives in 12 starts. He drove for Team Green in the Indy Lights in 2000 and is a two-time Barber Dodge Pro Series champion (1998-99).

Simmons, a bachelor who lists New York, N.Y. as his residence, began his racing career driving quarter midgets at age five. He was a regional champion from 1981 through 1991 and won national championships in 1981 and 1986.

The Futaba Freedom 100 will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. (EDT) on May 22.