A. J. Foyt

Anthony Joseph " AJ " Foyt ( born January 16, 1935 in Houston, Texas ) is a retired American race car driver.

Career

Foyt is considered U.S. motorsport legend, because he won many important and highly respected race. So he triumphed in 35 appearances four times in the Indianapolis 500 in 1972, he won the Daytona 500, which belongs to the NASCAR series, in which he won a total of seven victories. Also in sports car racing Foyt was successful. In 1967, he won the 24 - hour race at Le Mans. This was followed by victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona (1983, 1985) and the 12 - hour race at Sebring in 1985, each on a Porsche 962

However, his main field of activity was the Indycar and Champ Car - seater. From 1957 to 1993 he participated in 369 races in part, scored 53 pole positions and won 67 races. The USAC Championship he won in 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1975 and 1979. Upon removal of the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) could Foyt there but decide no more races for themselves.

On January 17, 1965 accident Foyt at Motor Trend 500 heavily as he steered his car due to a brake failure of the track to avoid a collision with other vehicles. The car overturned at more than 100 mph ( 160 km / h) repeatedly. The race doctor told the unconscious and hypoxic Foyt first for dead, but Parnelli Jones was able to revive him. Foyt suffered a spinal fracture, among others, and a fracture of the sternum, around three months passed before he was able to race again.

In near- identical Chevrolet Camaro he twice won the International Race of Champions. With an Oldsmobile Aerotech he achieved several world records, including the highest average speed on a closed race course, 413.788 km / h on 27 August 1987 on the 12.411 km long test track in Fort Stockton, Texas.

Personal

AJ Foyt IV His grandson is also a racing driver and drove including in the IndyCar Series ( 2003-2010 ).

Statistics

Individual results in Formula 1

Le Mans results

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