FOYT FINISHES 32ND IN FIRST CAREER BRICKYARD 400
 Larry
Foyt, driver of the No. 14 Harrah's Dodge, finished 32nd in his
first career race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday in the
10th running of the Brickyard 400. Kevin Harvick won the race.
Foyt, who has never missed the Indianapolis 500, finally fulfilled a
lifelong dream of competing in a race at the historic speedway.
"Indy means so much to me and my family, so to finally race here is
a dream come true," said Foyt. "We struggled all weekend, but we
never gave up and I got my first race here under my belt."
Foyt spun and hit the turn two wall during the second of two
qualifying laps on Saturday morning.
"On my first lap, when I went into turn three, it was raining so bad
that I could barely see the corner," said Foyt. "I slid through it
like I was on ice and it really messed our lap up. On my second lap
I think I was just trying too hard to make up for what happened
before, and I just spun it around and into the wall."
 Fortunately, the team still made the event by using a provisional
and started the race in 42nd position. However, due to the
qualifying accident, they were forced to use the backup car.
When the race started, Foyt battled a car that pushed in turns one
and three, but was loose off of two and four. Unfortunately, the car
wasn't responing well to changes the team made during pit stops
because the problem plagued the team all afternoon. It wasn't until
the changes made during the race's final pit stop that the car
finally showed signs of life.
"I think we were running out best times at the end of the race,"
said Foyt. "It just goes to show that this Harrah's team never gives
up.
"Although I would have liked to have put on a better show today, my
first race at Indy was great. Since I was a kid, I dreamed of
walking through Gasoline Alley in a drivers suit on my way to a race
and today I finally fulfilled it. When I drove down the front
stretch for the first time with all the fans cheering in the stands,
it sent chills down my spine. It was everything I thought it would
be.
The NASCAR Winston Cup series heads to Watkins Glen International
next weekend for the second of two road course events of the season.
The racing action begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and MRN Radio
FOYT PREPARED TO TAKE ON
INDIANAPOLIS FOR FIRST TIME
 INDIANAPOLIS,
Ind. - It's not every day that a lifelong dream comes true.
However, that will be the case for NASCAR Winston Cup rookie Larry
Foyt this Sunday when he competes in the 10th running of the
Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Foyt, son of racing legend A.J. Foyt and driver of the No. 14
Harrah's Dodge, has attended the Indianapolis 500 for as long as he
can remember and dreamed of one day competing at the historic track.
"I've come here every year of my life to watch the Indy 500," said
Foyt. "It's a really special place to me. Indianapolis is what made
me want to be a racecar driver."
However, it wasn't until a test session two weeks ago that he first
got the chance to drive around the track.
"I think the only time I had been around the track before that was
when I was about five years old and Dad took me around it in a
station wagon," said Foyt. "When I went out to drive it for the
first time, I told my spotter to make sure that there was no one
coming up behind me because I might take it a little slow and enjoy
the lap - and I did. I drove around and looked all around, going by
turn two where I used to always sit and watch the race and my Dad
would wave at us from his Indy car.
"It was pretty special and tough to put into words. Then it was time
to focus and go down that long straightaway and make that turn into
turn one."
With A.J. being one of only three drivers to have four Indianapolis
500 victories, the Foyt family has accumulated many fond memories
of Indianapolis, and Larry is no exception.
"As a kid, my Dad used to always wait for me and let me walk over
with him through Gasoline Alley," said Foyt. To hear the people
cheer for him when he'd walk by is something I'll never forget.
"It makes the hair stand up on your arms. It's something that I'll
never forget and probably one of the coolest things that I've ever
experienced."
However, a good finish for the Harrah's team this weekend might top
that experience.
"I'm not sure if I'll be able to contain my excitement on Sunday,
and a good run would mean so much to myself and the team," said
Foyt. "I got the chance to race at Daytona in February and July, and
it was absolutely thrilling. But to compete at Indianapolis for the
first time, I'm not sure if words can accurately describe what it
really means." |
