Following a second place finish in 1979, Foyt’s best result at Indianapolis was fifth in 1989. He suffered severe foot and leg injuries in a racing crash at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in September, 1990, but returned to qualify on the front row for the 1991 Indy 500.
Foyt made a sudden and unexpected decision to retire from driving to focus on team ownership on Indianapolis’ Pole Day 1993. “I couldn’t drive and be the car owner that a young driver needs,” Foyt said. “So I came back to the garage and told my team that I was going to quit and I did.
“When I won Indy the first time back in ‘61, I had a chance to meet Ray Harroun,” A.J. added. “I asked him when he knew when to quit. He said, ‘It’ll come to you - you’ll just know.’ And he was right.”
Foyt’s most recent moment of Indianapolis glory came in 1999, when his car driven by Kenny Brack won the race. “Kenny is one of the best drivers I had,” Foyt noted. “I had a lot of respect for him. Winning Indy with him would have to be my greatest accomplishment as a team owner because he was such a cool cat and such a great guy on top of that.”