A.J. FOYT TURNS 90!!

HOUSTON (Jan. 16, 2025) -- A.J. Foyt turned 90 years old today!

The milestone birthday is remarkable for several reasons: his record-setting achievements in one of motorsports most dangerous eras, his comeback from death-defying accidents both on track and off, and his incredible resilience with several health issues. We asked this tough Texan a few questions...

When you look back over your career, what makes you most proud?

A.J.: "I think my mother and daddy seeing me win Indy four times. When I was coming up racing local here in Houston, my dream was to someday go to Indianapolis. I did. My daddy always changed my right rear tire, he was part of my success. Having my mother and daddy seeing me win my fourth before they died made me real proud."

Sports Illustrated captured the moment of A.J. with his dad Tony.

What is it about you that you were able to achieve such incredible success?

A.J.: "I would say the best thing that made me was that I had such great fans and I wanted to satisfy them. I think that gave me a lot of motivation in my racing career, my fans. And I still love 'em."

But what was it in you, before you had fans?

A.J.: "I always drove hard, even at the local tracks because I liked to win. And when I got to Indy, the fans made want to win even more. I know they loved winning and I loved winning so we had a good combination together."

A.J. with a couple of fans at his book signing last fall at the Foyt Wine Vault in Indianapolis.

What are some of the best advances in racing that you've seen?

A.J.: "I would say that they made the cars so much safer than what they used to be. They carry a lot less fuel and that's the biggest thing that racing has gained. I don't say it's any better but it's a lot safer. I'm always looking for safety too 'cause I had a lot of friends that lost their lives. I was one of the lucky ones 'cause I made it through all that."

How did you survive all that? It was such a deadly era particularly in 1964 when you won 10 of 13 races--still a record.

A.J.:  "I really can't answer that because I lost a lot of friends. That's the reason I didn't run with too many people, I kinda stayed by myself 'cause I didn't want it on my mind."

Rodger Ward (L) with A.J. Foyt and Eddie Sachs. (IMS Photo)

How did you put it out of your mind In '58 when you lost Pat O'Connor and in '64 when you lost Eddie Sachs (and Dave MacDonald)?

A.J.: "I just tried to not think about it. I'm here today but I might be gone tomorrow. I knew that. After I won Indy, everybody couldn't believe I went sprint car racing and midget racing. They'd say after you won Indy, you'd lose your life within a month or two or get hurt real bad. I just didn't pay attention to that. I had a life to live and I was enjoying it. If I lost my life, that's the way I'd have to go."

What's the toughest recovery you had to come back from?

A.J.: "It was when I was burnt pretty good at Milwaukee (1966). I got broke up worse than the burns I had on my hands and face but I think the burns were the worse thing I suffered really. You get broken bones, you heal them quicker. But the burns take so much time.

"I had gotten Jimmy Clark's Lotus from Colin Chapman and in practice, it broke the rear  suspension going in Turn 1 and it put me into that gate and it just blew up. We didn't have fuel cells and all that stuff back then. You could carry 75 gallons of fuel. I didn't have that much on there, don't get me wrong, and when it hit in the front end, it caught on fire. I was kind of hung in it, I couldn't get out. I had to put my hands in it and pry myself out and I slid the skin off my hands. It was pretty painful.

"A burn is one of the worst things you can have. I don't think racing's any better than when I raced but what is better is that you don't see a lot of guys getting burnt real bad. That's the one beautiful thing about racing is that it's so much safer."

Note: Although Foyt remembers he was out of the car seven months, actually he was back in a car three weeks later at Atlanta. Mechanical issues ended his race in five laps. A month later he ran Indianapolis Raceway Park, again out after five laps with mechanical issues. He returned a month later to qualify second and finish third in a 100-lapper at Springfield.

A.J. at home after his accident at Elkhart Lake in 1990. It was feared he would never race again but remarkably the 56-year-old came back to qualify on the middle of the front row for the 1991 Indy 500 between pole winner Rick Mears and Mario Andretti. It was the 75th Running of the historic race.

Is there anything you would change over the course of your career?

"No. I raced local and I had a dream of going to Indy and then be fortunate enough to win it, how many people have dreams that come true? It was my dream when I went up there and bought tickets and sat up in Turn 2. A couple years later, I was lucky enough to get a ride. People saw me run Salem, Indiana in a sprint car and I think that's what really helped me get a ride at Indianapolis. They said if I was brave enough to run the high banks, I'd be good at Indy. (laughs) Hell, I didn't know any better, it was just a race track to me."

The high speeds never scared you?

A.J.: "Not really. That never entered my mind. I went to the race track and whatever it was, I tried to adjust to it. I went to Daytona (in a stock car) and I was fortunate enough to win that. Then went to LeMans - Dan Gurney and I - what a super guy he was to pick me and be on Shelby's team and be fortunate enough to win LeMans. I've had a wonderful life and if I passed on today, nobody could've had a better life than I had."

If you had to pick out the best day of your life, what would it be?

A.J.:  "I think passing my driver's test at Indianapolis. I would say that was one of the greatest thrills of my life. I know it was." 

What did you do after you passed it?

A.J.: "There used to be the White Front (restaurant and bar) down from the track on 16th. After I qualified, I went there and Bettenhausen (Tony, Sr.) and Bob Veith and Freeland (Don), all of them were up there cause that's where they all hung out. They said, "What are you doing here?" And I said, "I'm gonna have a Coke." They said, "Here's a Screwdriver, it's like orange juice." I said, "Well I'll try one." So I had one, then two, then three, and I had to go to the restroom. I stood up and the room kind of spun and I said, "Damn, I can't see!" Well, the next day they had all the rookies out, and I was one of the quickest ones [in fact he was the fastest rookie qualifier starting 12th] but I had hugged onto the toilet all night long! I haven't had a Screwdriver since 1958. And I don't plan on having another one.

"That's one of the highlights and after I won Indy, someone said, "I bet you and your wife went out and really celebrated." And I said, "Yeah."  They had a White Castle Hamburger  right there in front of the Speedway and my wife and I had two White Castle hamburgers, I think they were eleven cents a piece. We really celebrated."

You really wouldn't change anything?

A.J.: "Nope, I come from nothing and had a wonderful life. Who'd ever think I'd be here now at 90 years old?"

A.J. and his wife Lucy in 1955...the first of many victory lanes together.

What do you think about being 90 years old?

"I don't think I'm s'posed to live this long! I'm living for a reason but I don't know why!"

How do you occupy your time these days?

"I keep buying land and try to develop it. I love to get on my bulldozers and tractors. I do that almost every other day. People say you're out there by yourself. And I say, "It's peaceful. I don't have to listen to anybody but me."

 What advice would you give someone starting out?

"I'd tell them "Don't take no bullshit off nobody."

CHECK OUT THE AJ FOYT RACING FACEBOOK PAGE (OR 'X' AND INSTAGRAM) FOR HAPPY BIRTHDAYS FROM SOME SPECIAL FRIENDS!

The Driver's Victories: Indianapolis 500 (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977); 24 Hours of LeMans (1967); Daytona 500 (1972); Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (1983, 1985); 12 Hours of Sebring (1985); 67 Indy car races, 2 USAC Dirt Champ Car races, 7 NASCAR Cup races, 41 USAC Stock Car races, 28 USAC Sprint car races, 20 USAC midget races. Championship Titles:  Indy Car (7), USAC Stock Car (3), USAC Dirt Champ Car (1), USAC Sprint Car (1).

His Injuries: 1965, Riverside, Calif.: broken back, bruised aorta, fractured heel; 1966, Milwaukee: severe burns on hands, face and neck; 1972, DuQuoin, Ill.: burns, broken leg and ankle; 1981, Brooklyn, Mich.: fractured arm; 1983, Daytona, Fla.: broken back; 1990, Elkhart Lake, Wis.: broken leg, crushed left heel, dislocated right heel, compartment syndrome both feet; 1992, Daytona and Phoenix: broke same shoulder twice.

Ranch accidents in Texas: 2004, Trac-hoe, torn rotator cuff; 2005, Bulldozer, Killer Bees attack; 2007, Bulldozer flipped into lake, nearly drowned; Bulldozer, Killer Bees attack II.

In October, 2024, Octane Press published the first volume of the most comprehensive and accurate biography of Foyt to date. A.J. Foyt: Survivor, Champion, Legend, written by award-winning author Art Garner, documents Foyt's life story in detail. Immensely readable and engaging, it is filled with photos and anecdotes that will amaze and amuse readers. It is currently available at Octane Press.

Sprint car champions Parnelli Jones (outside) and A.J. Foyt battling it out on the high banks at Salem.

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