Team owner Foyt adding to his lore

MIKE HARRIS

Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998 | 10:34 a.m.

The memories are fading now.

A generation of racing fans never saw A.J. Foyt manhandle a car into submission with an iron will and a searing desire to win. To them, he's just a name out of the past.

But that's OK with A.J.

The 63-year-old Foyt has other priorities nowadays. He's the very-hands-on owner of a two-car team in the Indy Racing League.

And if things go as planned Sunday in the season-ending Las Vegas 500K, Foyt driver Kenny Brack will be the IRL champion. The 32-year-old Swede heads into the weekend with a solid 31-point lead over Davey Hamilton.

Brack, from a very un-Foytlike background as a European road racer, set an IRL record earlier this season by winning three straight events.

Foyt's other driver, Billy Boat, whose history as an oval racer more closely mirrors that of his boss, also has a victory this year. And Boat, also 32, heads to Las Vegas with an IRL record three straight poles.

"These guys are making my life a lot of fun right now," Foyt said. "The other thing is I have a good, young crew working very hard.

"When Boat won earlier this year, they found out what it feels like. It's like giving candy to a kid. They get a taste of it and they want more."

Foyt knows more than most about winning. His 67 Indy-car victories remain the standard in the sport. He was the first driver to win four Indianapolis 500s.

The rowdy Texan also showed his versatility by winning seven NASCAR events - including the 1972 Daytona 500 - and the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans endurance races.

Throughout his career, Foyt also made headlines for his words and off-track deeds. He spewed rage if denied victory by the winds of racing fate.

He once "fixed" his damaged car with a sledgehammer in full view of the fans. Another time, he used the public address system - and an expletive - to tell a huge throng at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway how poorly his car had run in qualifying .

At an age when most people are mulling retirement, Foyt retains much of the fire from his driving days.

In June 1997, Boat apparently had won his first race for Foyt at Texas Motor Speedway. They were celebrating in Victory Lane when two-time Indy winner Arie Luyendyk strode upon the scene, loudly declaring the scoring had been messed up and he was actually the winner.

Foyt regained national notoriety. He rushed Luyendyk, slapped him in the head and knocked him to the ground.

Following an all-night scoring audit, Luyendyk was indeed declared the race winner. Foyt apologized.

Longtime racing fans smiled, shrugged and said, "That's A.J."

Familiar with that drill is fellow Texan Greg Ray, who filled in for an injured Boat for part of this season.

"It's the funniest thing," Ray said. "He's the only person who could get away with that. Nobody really holds it against him.

"A.J. is not exactly polished around the corners, but he is a very, very smart man. He is also very passionate about racing, and that's why he's been so good at it."

Eddie Cheever, a journeyman driver who spent considerable time in Formula One before moving to Indy cars and winning this year's Indianapolis 500, calls Foyt a legend.

"If he didn't exist, you'd have to invent him," Cheever said. "He is hardheaded ... arrogant ... opinionated. But I love him."

Foyt, who won 12 driving championships in various disciplines, looks back without regret on his days as a driver.

"I had my fair share of glory through the years," he said. "I couldn't have had a better career. I wouldn't change anything I did."

Nor would he change his current role.

"I really love working with these young guys, seeing them figure it all out," Foyt said, his eyes gleaming. "When they win, it's new to them, and you can see it change the way they look at things.

"There's a lot of stuff that comes with owning a team that's just hard work. But my daddy taught me never to be afraid of hard work."

Foyt is unaffected if people don't remember or care about his accomplishments as a driver. But he is moved by the progress of his young team.

"There are a lot of legends here," he said. "My name is just A.J."