Over the weekend the annual 24 Hours of Daytona took place, and originally scheduled to be the grand Marshall for the event was none other than legendary A.J. Foyt. Foyt is the only man in history to win the Daytona 500, 24 hours of Daytona, Indy 500 and the 24 hours of LeMans. Unfortunately for those in attendance Foyt was noticeably absent.
A.J. had recently had knee surgery near his home in Texas and at the last minute had to pull out from his duties as the Grand Marshall. According to a spokeswoman Foyt had been doing decent after the surgery and was actually walking, but an infection had attacked him late last week and had forced him back to the Hospital.
The 24 hours of Daytona officials decided to have Jackie Stewart replace Foyt for the 50th anniversary of the endurance race. Foyt did appologize to those he felt he had let down in a statement,“I am really sorry that I can’t be there this weekend for the Rolex 24. I was really looking forward to it because I thought it was a great honor to be asked to be the Grand Marshal of the 50th Anniversary of that race and considered it to be one of the great highlights of my career. I feel so bad that I let everyone down. I was also looking forward to seeing some of my old friends and the race cars that I drove in that race. It was going to be a really fun weekend for me but I guess I’ll be watching the race from my hospital room-yep the doctors pulled rank on me. And I hate to admit, but I think they’re right-this time. I’d like to wish everyone a safe race and I’ll be with you in spirit.”
From all of us at OneDirt.com we’d like to wish a speedy recovery to this great man!
A.J. had recently had knee surgery near his home in Texas and at the last minute had to pull out from his duties as the Grand Marshall. According to a spokeswoman Foyt had been doing decent after the surgery and was actually walking, but an infection had attacked him late last week and had forced him back to the Hospital.
The 24 hours of Daytona officials decided to have Jackie Stewart replace Foyt for the 50th anniversary of the endurance race. Foyt did appologize to those he felt he had let down in a statement,“I am really sorry that I can’t be there this weekend for the Rolex 24. I was really looking forward to it because I thought it was a great honor to be asked to be the Grand Marshal of the 50th Anniversary of that race and considered it to be one of the great highlights of my career. I feel so bad that I let everyone down. I was also looking forward to seeing some of my old friends and the race cars that I drove in that race. It was going to be a really fun weekend for me but I guess I’ll be watching the race from my hospital room-yep the doctors pulled rank on me. And I hate to admit, but I think they’re right-this time. I’d like to wish everyone a safe race and I’ll be with you in spirit.”
From all of us at OneDirt.com we’d like to wish a speedy recovery to this great man!
