ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, May 13, 1996 TAG: 9605130134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE FOUR-TIME INDY 500 winner blasts car owners for racing in U.S. 500.
A.J. Foyt blasted Championship Auto Racing Teams on Sunday, calling the car owners who are boycotting the Indianapolis 500 crybabies and ingrates.
At a news conference after the four-time Indy winner and current car owner put three of his entries into the May 26 lineup, Foyt said none of the CART drivers would be at Michigan International Speedway for the renegade U.S. 500 if they weren't under contract with their owners.
``I mean, I know that personally, because all of them was here, at my shop. It's a terrible thing. They're the ones that are suffering,'' Foyt said.
``This is the biggest race track in the world, and the world knows it after 80 years. Like I've always said, it's like the Kentucky Derby, you can't replace tradition regardless of megabucks or what. I think all of them are so jealous and so hurt that they're not here, they should be here.''
CART scheduled the race in Michigan on the same day as the Indy 500 after Tony George, the Speedway president and Foyt's godson, reserved up to 25 of the 33 starting spots for regulars in his new Indy Racing League. The Indy 500 is the third of five IRL races this season.
Foyt was asked about comments by Michael Andretti that the reason some drivers were going so fast at Indianapolis was that the U.S. Auto Club favored them with extra manifold boost for added horsepower.
``He's like his daddy [Mario], he's been a crybaby all his life. And I'm not telling you all something you don't know,'' Foyt said. ``I'll tell 'em to their face like that because that's the way it is.''
Then he launched into a tirade against car owner Roger Penske, whose drivers have won a record 10 Indianapolis 500s and who is the most influential member of CART.
``Big Roger Penske. Where in the hell was Roger Penske made? Right here at this race track. He damn sure didn't make this place, like A.J. Foyt didn't or Wilbur Shaw didn't or whoever,'' Foyt said. ``I'm sick and tired of hearing the crap and I'll tell you why. ...
``You don't know me winning Daytona three times, you don't know me winning LeMans, you don't know me winning Ontario, you don't know me winning Pocono four times, do you? Or all the sports car races? You know me from one place, and that's right here,'' he said, jabbing his finger at the table in the interview room.
``When them people start saying they made Indianapolis, they got a bad problem because they're forgetting where they came from and what made their name. And that's what I'm getting disgusted about,'' Foyt said. ``Like Roger Penske. You would not know Roger Penske if it wouldn't be for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
``Like him and [Bobby] Rahal, they let the statement out, they said, `Fine, we're not going to Indianapolis.' Well, who gives a crap?''
In January, Foyt filed a lawsuit against CART in federal court in Houston, accusing the organization of trying to monopolize IndyCar racing, of pressuring companies to stay away from sponsoring his IRL cars and of costing his A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Inc. at least $5 million. The suit is scheduled to be heard on May 29.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB