AJ Foyt has to be one of the greatest racing drivers to ever grace our planet. He is one of just three drivers to win the Indy 500 four times, has won the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and is the only person to have recorded victories at all three of the aforementioned races as well as the 24 Hours of Daytona as well. His career is truly legendary. And today, IndyCar is celebrating its 86th birthday, with his AJ Foyt Enterprises racing team going strong in IndyCar to this day.

A Legendary Career

via IndyCar

Foyt’s career in the Indy 500 was legendary. He became the first man in the series history to win the event four times and competed in the event for a record-breaking 35 consecutive years, which is perhaps something that will never be repeated, let alone bettered. He has also won the race in both front and rear engine cars, being the only man to do so and winning twice in each one. Another awesome fact, he is the only man to have won the Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours in the same year, which was back in 1967.

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But Foyt’s career didn’t end when he quit racing. He set up AJ Foyt Enterprises which is still going strong to this day and they have amassed 44 IndyCar series wins as a team. 2021 will see Sebastien Bourdais and Dalton Kellett drive the team's cars. And Foyt has overcome his fair share of adversity. He overcame horrible injuries in an accident in 1990 at Road America, and has fought off bees several times at his Texas home!

Tough Times

via Wall Street Journal

Times have been tougher for his IndyCar team in recent years. Their last win was with Takuma Sato in 2013 at Long Beach, who has since won the 500 twice with Andretti Autosport and Rahal Letterman Lanigan. Bourdais showed a good turn of speed for AJ’s team however in the 2020 IndyCar season finale, so times could be about to change for this old guard team. Let’s hope Super Tex can celebrate his 86th year on this planet in style. The IndyCar series recommences in April, for the 2021 season.

Sources: IndyCar, Wall Street Journal

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