A. J. Foyt IV

Anthony Joseph Foyt IV (born May 25, 1984) is an American football scout and former racing driver. He is a scouting assistant for the Indianapolis Colts, and drove in the IndyCar Series and briefly the NASCAR Busch Series. He is the third generation of the famous Foyt family.

A. J. Foyt IV
Foyt at the opening of the Foyt Wine Vault in Speedway, Indiana, in 2015
Nationality	American
Born	Anthony Joseph Foyt IV May 25, 1984 Louisville, Kentucky
Achievements	2002 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion
IndyCar Series career
84 races run over 7 years
Best finish	14th (2007)
First race	2003 Toyota Indy 300 (Homestead)
Last race	2009 Bombardier Learjet 550 (Texas)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 1 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
11 races run over 2 years
Best finish	74th (2006)
First race	2005 Sam's Town 250 (Memphis)
Last race	2006 O'Reilly 300 (Texas)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0
Football career
Indianapolis Colts
Position:	Scouting assistant
Career history
As executive:
Indianapolis Colts (2010–present) Scouting assistant

He began his career racing karts. He moved up through the open wheel racing ranks, winning the 2002 Infiniti Pro Series. When Foyt made his first Indianapolis 500 race in 2003, he became the youngest driver to start in the event. He continued in IndyCar for two more years until his back was injured at the 2005 Indianapolis 500. Later that season he made several NASCAR Busch Series starts. He was scheduled to continue in the Busch Series in 2006, but the team was bought out and his contract prevented him from driving a non-Dodge car. He returned to IndyCar late that season. He has not raced since 2009, although he drove for his grandfather's A. J. Foyt Enterprises team in trials for the 2010 Indianapolis 500.

Personal life

Foyt was born on May 25, 1984, in Louisville, Kentucky,[1] but lists his hometown as Hockley, Texas,[2] the long-time residence of his grandfather and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A. J. Foyt, who guided him through much of his career. He is the son of Nancy and thoroughbred trainer Tony Foyt. His cousin, Larry Foyt, also raced cars.[3] He spent much of his early years working with some horses trained by his father at the horse stables of Churchill Downs before his family relocated to Texas when he was six years old.[4][5] Foyt is a June 2002 graduate of Waller High School.[6][7]

Foyt appeared in the 2005 film, The Dukes of Hazzard,[8] and is an avid Texas Longhorns fan.[9] He married Indianapolis Colts vice-president Casey Irsay, daughter of team owner Jim Irsay, in July 2009. They have three children.[10]

Early career in IndyCar

Foyt began racing Junior Dragsters as a nine-year-old after a family friend and his uncle purchased a dragster for him and won two championships with it.[5][6] He progressed to racing karts on paved road courses and dirt tracks where he remained for the following six years,[3][5] before going on to drive formula race cars in 2001. In 2001, he won six of nine SCCA events to claim the Southwest Regional championship. He finished third in SCCA's national point championships and was the series' Rookie of the Year.[2] That same year, he competed at the World Karting Association's Dirt World Championships at Daytona Beach, Florida and finished second in the Briggs Heavy feature event. Foyt competed in his first USAC Silver Crown event that August.[2] In early 2002, he worked for his grandfather's team A. J. Foyt Enterprises in its race shop and as a pit lane crew member for driver Airton Daré.[11] Foyt was later signed to drive for the team in the newly formed Infiniti Pro Series in mid-year. Foyt won the championship with four wins and four pole positions in seven events.[2][12]

After passing his rookie test at Texas Motor Speedway on October 31, 2002 allowing him to obtain an Indy Racing League (IRL) racing license,[1][13] he progressed to Foyt Enterprises' IRL IndyCar Series team for the 2003 season, finishing 21st in the final standings.[2] Foyt currently holds the record for the youngest driver to race in the Indy 500. His rookie race in 2003 occurred on his 19th birthday. He took the record from Josele Garza who was slightly over 2 months older for his first start in 1981.[14]

He continued to struggle in the IndyCar Series, finishing 18th overall in the 2004 season points and falling to 20th in the 2005 series. In the 2005 Indianapolis 500 Foyt was involved in an accident with Champ Car World Series driver Bruno Junqueira, who sustained a fractured back. The season did not improve as the team switched from Toyota to Chevrolet power mid-season[15] and Foyt was replaced for the late-season road course events by Jeff Bucknum.[16]

NASCAR

In October 2005, Foyt announced that at the end of the 2005 season, he would leave Foyt Enterprises and drive in the NASCAR Busch Series for the No. 38 Akins Motorsports team and was signed as a developmental driver for Evernham Motorsports. He competed in the final four rounds of the 2005 Busch Series in the No. 38 car, and finished outside the top twenty in all of them.[17] After the season, he moved from Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina, and was scheduled to run the entire Busch Series schedule in the No. 38 and be a competitor for the Rookie of the Year award.[18] However, early in the 2006 season, Akins was purchased by Braun Racing, which switched the No. 38 from a Dodge to a Chevrolet. Foyt had an exclusive contract with Dodge that prevented him from continuing with the team.[19] After seven races,[20] he was released by the team due to poor performances, Atkins merging with Brawn and changing manufacturers to Chevrolet.[21] Ray Evernham found Foyt employment driving FitzBradshaw Racing's No. 14 car,[22] but Foyt failed to qualify for his first race at Richmond International Raceway with the team and has not attempted a NASCAR race since.[23]

Return to IndyCar

2006

On September 5, 2006, Foyt was tapped by the 2005 IndyCar Championship team, Andretti Green Racing, to replace injured regular AGR driver Dario Franchitti. Foyt drove the No. 27 Dallara Honda in the IRL season's final event at Chicagoland Speedway and finished 14th.[24]

Foyt Driving at the Milwaukee Mile in 2007

2007

In January 2007, Foyt signed with Vision Racing to return to the IRL for the 2007 season as well as drive with the team in the 2007 24 Hours of Daytona.[25]

On August 5, 2007, during the Firestone Indy 400, Foyt was involved in a seven-car accident in which Dario Franchitti's vehicle was sent airborne and then came down on Foyt's car. While Foyt was uninjured, Franchitti's car left visible tire marks on Foyt's helmet.[26] Foyt's crew was able to repair the car and get him back on the track where he completed enough laps to finish eighth. The following week at the Meijer Indy 300, Foyt's crew gave him great pit stops which allowed him to take to lead with ten laps remaining. Even though Foyt was passed a few laps later by Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon, he managed to hold on the rest of the way and drive to a career-best 3rd-place finish, the first Top-5 finish of his career. It was also the best finish in Vision Racing's team history, tying Tomas Scheckter's third-place finish at the Milwaukee Mile in 2006.[27]

2008

Signing autographs in 2008

Foyt returned to be one of Vision Racing's drivers in the 2008 24 Hours of Daytona.[28] He returned to the Vision team for the 2008 IndyCar Series driving the No. 2 car that was formerly driven by Tomas Scheckter.[29]

On March 28, Foyt seemed to have earned a career best start for an IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 2008 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 with the third best qualifying time.[30] His Vision Racing teammate, Ed Carpenter also earned a career best start with the 2nd best qualifying time.[30] However, both cars failed technical inspection, meaning they had to start at the rear of the field.[30] Foyt drove his No. 2 entry from the last position (25th) to a ninth-place finish in the race.[2][15]

Two races later at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, Foyt had his first top-10 start of the season for the Indy Japan 300 when qualifying was rained out. The starting grid was based on driver points standings. Of the drivers there, Foyt was eighth in the championship points standings.[31] He was helped with some drivers ahead of him racing in the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Foyt had contact with the wall, forcing him to retire from the race early, with a 15th-place finish.[32]

The following week at Kansas Speedway, Foyt and his teammate Ed Carpenter shared the third row, with Foyt qualifying 5th. It was his best career start and second top-10 start in a row. In the RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300, Foyt had his chances of a high finish end as his car was caught in the pits when an accident involving Buddy Rice occurred.[33] Foyt would drive to an eighth-place finish. Foyt's best finish of the season came in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 in June at the Iowa Speedway where he finished fifth. Foyt finished the season 19th in the points standings.[15]

2009–2010

Vision Racing was unable to secure sponsorship to run a second car in 2009, leaving Foyt out of a ride.[34] He returned to the Foyt-Greer Racing team for the 2009 Indianapolis 500, driving the No. 41 vehicle.[35] Foyt finished 16th on the lead lap as his teammate Vítor Meira was injured in a late-race crash.[36] Paul Tracy was drafted as the substitute driver for Meira at the next race, but Foyt stepped into the car for his home race at Texas Motor Speedway.[37] Ryan Hunter-Reay drove the car for the rest of the season and Texas would be Foyt's last race of 2009.[15]

In 2010, he was again entered in a second Foyt Enterprises car for the Indy 500. After the morning practice session on the final day of qualifying A. J. Foyt IV and his grandfather got in an argument regarding the car's setup resulting in the younger A. J. quitting the team.[38] Jaques Lazier was drafted in on short notice to qualify the car but was not fast enough to make the field.[39]

Post-racing career

Foyt has been employed by the Indianapolis Colts since 2010 as a scouting assistant.[40][41] He also went into partnership with his cousin Larry Foyt in the wine business following the conclusion of his racing career,[42][43] opening the Foyt Wine Vault in Speedway, Indiana, in May 2015 with the support of A. J. Foyt.[43]

Motorsports career results

American Open-Wheel racing results

(key)

Indy Lights

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Rank	Points	Ref
2002	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	KAN 1	NSH 4	MIS 1	KTY 1	STL 9	CHI 6	TXS 1	1st	290	[44]

IRL IndyCar Series

Source:[45]

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Rank	Points
2003	A.J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara IR-03	Toyota Indy V8	HMS 17	PHX 18		INDY 18		PPIR 22			NSH 17		STL 17		NZR 11	CHI 17						21st	198
		G-Force GF09				MOT 18		TXS 21		RIR 21	KAN 15		MIS 14		KTY 17			FON 17	TX2 22
2004	A.J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara IR-04	Toyota Indy V8	TXS 15	PHX 14	MOT 15	INDY 33	TXS 22	RIR 11	KAN 13	NSH 16	MIL 16	MIS 15	KTY 18	PPIR 21	NZR 15	CHI 16	FON 19	TX2 10				18th	232
2005	A.J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara IR-05	Toyota Indy V8	HMS 9	PHX 14	STP 21	MOT 14	INDY 28	TXS 18	RIR 14	KAN 16	NSH 12	MIL 21	MIS 12									20th	231
			Chevrolet Indy V8												KTY 9	PPIR 21	SNM	CHI 11	WGL	FON 21
2006	Andretti Green Racing	Dallara IR-05	Honda HI6R V8	HMS	STP	MOT	INDY	WGL	TXS	RIR	KAN	NSH	MIL	MIS	KTY	SNM	CHI 14						26th	16
2007	Vision Racing	Dallara IR-05	Honda HI7R V8	HMS 18	STP 13	MOT 13	KAN 9	INDY 14	MIL 13	TXS 17	IOW 12	RIR 13	WGL 15	NSH 12	MDO 13	MIS 8	KTY 3	SNM 15	DET 9	CHI 10			14th	315
2008	Vision Racing	Dallara IR-05	Honda HI7R V8	HMS 9	STP 11	MOT^1 15	LBH^1 DNP	KAN 8	INDY 21	MIL 17	TXS 12	IOW 5	RIR 24	WGL 19	NSH 22	MDO 18	EDM 12	KTY 20	SNM 20	DET 10	CHI 13	SRF^2 17	19th	280
2009	A.J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara IR-05	Honda HI7R V8	STP	LBH	KAN	INDY 16	MIL	TXS 20	IOW	RIR	WGL	TOR	EDM	KTY	MDO	SNM	CHI	MOT	HMS			33rd	26
2010	A.J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara IR-05	Honda HI7R V8	SAO	STP	ALA	LBH	KAN	INDY Wth^3	TXS	IOW	WGL	TOR	EDM	MDO	SNM	CHI	KTY	MOT	HMS			NC	–

¹ Run on same day.

² Non-points paying, exhibition race.

³ Foyt was entered, practiced, and made a qualifying attempt on Pole Day, but failed to make the top 24. On Bump Day, he quit the team and was replaced by Jaques Lazier.

Years	Teams	Races	Poles	Wins	Podiums (Non-win)	Top 10s (Non-podium)	Indianapolis 500 Wins	Championships
7	3	84	0	0	1	8	0	0

Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
2003	Dallara	Toyota	23	18	Foyt
2004	Dallara	Toyota	21	33	Foyt
2005	Dallara	Toyota	28	28	Foyt
2007	Dallara	Honda	18	14	Vision
2008	Dallara	Honda	31	21	Vision
2009	Dallara	Honda	25	16	Foyt
2010	Dallara	Honda	DNQ		Foyt

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led; small number denotes finishing position.)

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	NBSC	Pts	Ref
2005	Akins Motorsports	38	Dodge	DAY	CAL	MXC	LVS	ATL	NSH	BRI	TEX	PHO	TAL	DAR	RCH	CLT	DOV	NSH	KEN	MLW	DAY	CHI	NHA	PPR	GTY	IRP	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH	DOV	KAN	CLT	MEM 32	TEX 39	PHO 42	HOM 24	87th	241	[17]
2006	Braun-Akins Racing			DAY 42	CAL 38	MXC 21	LVS 37	ATL 33	BRI 35	TEX 41	NSH	PHO	TAL																										74th	400	[23]
	FitzBradshaw Racing	14	Dodge											RCH DNQ	DAR	CLT	DOV	NSH	KEN	MLW	DAY	CHI	NHA	MAR	GTY	IRP	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH	DOV	KAN	CLT	MEM	TEX	PHO	HOM

References

1. Kupper, Mike (May 24, 2003). "Grand Legacy Has Some Burdens Too". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2003.
2. "A.J. Foyt IV". IndyCar. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
3. Hinton, Ed (May 7, 2003). "Swearing by kid". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
4. Torralba, Mike (August 12, 2003). "A.J. Foyt IV facing high expectations". Messenger-Inquirer. Associated Press. p. 4B. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Marot, Michael (May 22, 2003). "Foyt IV tries to make his own name in Indy cars". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
6. Manfull, Megan (May 25, 2003). "A.J. Foyt IV keeps family tradition rolling". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
7. Brudenell, Mike (July 26, 2002). "Foyt IV joins the family racing business". Detroit Free Press. Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. p. K4344. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 – via Gale General OneFile.
8. "Dukes of Hazzard cameo for Foyt IV". Crash. August 3, 2005. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
9. "The Foyt Boys Are Headed for the Super Bowl". Foyt Racing. January 30, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
10. B. Wilson, Philip (June 17, 2017). "Indy Legends Pro-Am Rekindles Love of Racing For Foyt IV". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
11. Fogarty, Mark (July 17, 2002). "Foyt IV follows family's tracks; Another A.J. finds way to victory lane". USA Today. p. C11. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 – via ProQuest.
12. Cavin, Curt (December 4, 2002). "2002 Motorsports Season in Review: Infiniti Pro Series: Family Resemblance: A.J. Foyt IV proved he's a racer just like his famous grandfather". Autoweek. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
13. "Youngest Foyt gets an IRL ride in 2003". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Associated Press. November 2, 2002. p. C7. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Dick Mittman (April 21, 2003). "Young Foyt Feeling Comfortable In Big Saddle At Indy". IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
15. "A.J. Foyt IV". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
16. "Bucknum to replace Foyt at Infineon". Crash.net. August 25, 2005. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
17. "A.J. Foyt IV — 2005 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
18. "Busch: Foyt IV looks forward to fresh start". Motorsport.com. February 18, 2006. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
19. Rodman, Dave (April 21, 2006). "Evernham looking to put Foyt back behind wheel". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
20. Gintonio, Jim (April 14, 2006). "Indy legend's grandson tries hand at NASCAR". The Arizona Republic. p. C11. Retrieved January 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
21. Pockrass, Bob (April 21, 2006). "Evernham not ready to give up on Foyt IV". Scene Daily. Archived from the original on May 2, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
22. "Foyt IV lands another ride". Scene Daily. May 2, 2006. Archived from the original on May 11, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
23. "A.J. Foyt IV — 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
24. Bob Margolis (May 13, 2007). "Glad to be back". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
25. Foyt the Fourth Official at Vision Racing Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, January 18, 2007
26. Franchitti OK after car flips sideways, turns upside down during Indy 400 wreck Archived May 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press via ESPN.com, August 6, 2007
27. Foyt leads 13 laps and takes third as Vision Racing finishes all three cars in top-10 at Kentucky Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Vision Racing, August 11, 2007
28. Dagys, John. World's best flock to Daytona for 24-Hour Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Motorsport.com, January 21, 2008
29. Wilkins, Robert (February 28, 2002). "Vision opts for more of the same". Crash. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
30. Lewandowski, Dave (March 2008). "Back to the Rear". IndyCar. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
31. "Rain Gives Castroneves Pole at Twin Ring Motegi Japan 300". Backstretch Motorsports. April 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
32. "Danica Patrick Wins Indy Japan 300 At Twin Ring Motegi". V8x. April 21, 2008. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
33. "Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 Daily Trackside Report". IndyCar. April 27, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
34. "Foyt IV out of ride". AutoRacing1. February 18, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
35. Wilson, Philip B. (May 24, 2009). "IRL power couple: Foyt and Irsay". The Indianapolis Star. p. R15. Retrieved January 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Indy 500: Series race report". Motorsport.com. June 19, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
37. Beer, Matt (June 4, 2009). "Foyt IV returns to grandfather's team". Autosport. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
38. A.J. Foyt IV speaks out after family feud Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, WISH-TV, May 26, 2010, Retrieved May 6, 2010
39. Cavin, Curt. Foyt says bump day dispute 'was no big deal' Archived June 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Indianapolis Star, May 25, 2010, Retrieved May 6, 2010
40. "Anthony Foyt IV, Scouting Assistant". Indianapolis Colts. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
41. Wells, Brad (May 18, 2010). "The Winds of Change: A.J. Foyt and Casey Irsay". www.stampedeblue.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
42. Sipple, George (May 27, 2017). "A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti take racing rivalry to the wine business". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
43. D. Russell, Rachel; Sherman, Chi (November 13, 2016). "From Indy Cars to Cabs". Edible Indy. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
44. "A.J. Foyt IV 2002 Infiniti / Indy Pro Series Results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
45. A.J. Foyt IV Career Stats Archived February 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, IndyCar.com

External links

• A. J. Foyt IV driver statistics at Racing-Reference