For every sporting participant, be it in motor racing or other disciplines, the decision to call time on an illustrious career can rank as one of the toughest decisions that a sportsman can make in their active lives, the competitive instinct that lies naturally within the performer contrasting with the self-realisation of fading talents and a negative backlash of staying within the sport long past their sell-by date. In 1993 it was AJ Foyt’s turn to make this most ultimate of decisions, but in typical Foyt style doing so in his own unique and inimitable manner.

By the late eighties it was safe to say that the best years of AJ Foyt’s career were firmly behind him. The Texan had failed to win a race in the Indycar series since 1981, and although there were still flashes of brilliance from time to time (including a fifth place finish at the 1989 Indianapolis 500) Foyt’s increasing lack of competitiveness and advanced age was beginning to raise concerns around the Indycar paddock. Whilst competing in an Indycar event at Road America in 1990, Foyt suffered a failure of his brakes along the Elkhart Lake course’s long front straightaway, causing him to crash head first into an earth mound surrounding the circuit at over 190 miles an hour. The accident left Foyt with severe damage to both his feet and knees, and led many to believe that it would act as the catalyst for Foyt’s impending retirement.

Foyt however was never one to take no for an answer, deciding that if he was to retire from the sport it would be on his own terms, and following his recovery began an extensive and aggressive recovery campaign in the aim to drive at the 500 one final time. Against the expectations of both doctors and pundits alike Foyt was able to return to the field in time for the 1991 500, and after drawing the coveted first slot for qualifying put in four blistering laps that saw him start second on the grid, sandwiching Mario Andretti and Rick Mears in a proverbial Mount Rushmore of Indianapolis legends. Following his strong showing in 1991, Foyt rescinded his retirement decision to compete in the 1992 race, using an intelligent drive and high attrition to claim his 17th top ten result at the Brickyard with a ninth placed finish, and despite now being 58 quickly announced that he would be returning to the speedway once again for the 1993 running of the event.

During the off-season, Foyt decided to change strategy in regards to the running of his Indycar outfit, hiring the promising 24 year old rookie Robbie Gordon to drive his fabled #14 for the 1993 season. Although providing his machines to other drivers was nothing new to Foyt, having provided cars for the Indianapolis 500 to the likes of George Snider and Johnny Rutherford for years, 1993 would be the first time that Foyt would have someone else driving for his outfit on a full time basis, and Gordon was quick to return the faith shown in him by Super Tex, by claiming third place in his first race for the team at Surfer’s paradise, handing the Foyt team their first podium finish Milwaukee in 1982. For the 1993 500, Gordon would be moved to Foyt’s #41 backup car, whilst Foyt would return to the #14 looking to make his 36th start in the Memorial Day classic.

During practice, Foyt showed that he had lost none of his touch when it came to Indianapolis, running speeds well over 220mph and confident that he would to make it into the race comfortably. Come the morning practice session prior to the start of Pole Day, Foyt was in the garage preparing himself to qualify for the race, when Robbie Gordon lost control of his car exiting turn one, causing his Copenhagen sponsored machine to hit the outside wall and slide along it before resting at the exit of turn two, the latest in a long line of incidents that Gordon had face during a weekend of struggle at the Brickyard. Upon hearing the news of Gordon’s accident something broke in Foyt, and at that moment the four time 500 champion made the decision to retire from the sport immediately, briefly informing his personal sponsors before travelling down pit-lane to speak to the Hulman family about his decision.

Although some in the paddock had expected Foyt’s retirement for many years the manner in which it happened still took many by surprise. Pole day was provisionally put on hold, as Foyt donned his driving suit one final time and took a slow ceremonial lap around the speedway, the capacity crowd giving a standing ovation around each of Indy’s four turns. As Foyt pulled back into the pits, he wiped away a tear before speaking to Brickyard PA announcer Tom Carnegie.

“It’s a hard decision, but there comes a time…” Foyt spluttered before sobbing on the shoulder of Carnegie, the veteran broadcaster comforting Foyt as he regained his composure. “The fans have brought me back as many years as I’ve been back, but I felt like, if I’m gonna run a team, I can’t be in a race car. Seems like every time I’m not with the car something happens, and I realized that this morning… I intended to qualify, and the car’s a very fast car, I got out of. I know it [would]’ve make the race very easy, I’d have no problem putting it in the show, and I think, like I said, [there] comes a time, I love all y’all a lot, you’ve been great fans, I love you, and I’ll still be back and we’ll still be up in the winner’s circle. Thank you very much.” Foyt’s speech was once again met with another standing ovation, as the Texan let out a grimiced smile and wave to the crowd, a career lasing 40 years, seven USAC championships and four 500 victories having come to an end.

Some drivers such as Richard Petty and Mario Andretti made their retirement announcements a celebration of their respective careers, using their final seasons in the sport as a chance to say thank you to a loyal fan-base who had supported them through the years. Yet for Foyt his decision to call it a day on the eve of a qualifying session with no foreshadowing was in many ways keeping Foyt’s style as a driver, a man for many years driven on instinct and passion and making decisions based on racing rather then his own selfishness. 1993 may have very well been Foyt’s final Indianapolis 500 regardless, the fact that it wasn’t in some way makes his retirement all the more memorable.

For today’s video we have coverage of Foyt’s interview with Carnegie, as well as the accident involving Robbie Gordon that instigated Foyt’s decision.