A.J. Foyt's career was primarily built in his native U.S., particularly at the Indianapolis 500: he was the first driver to win the major American endurance race four times and still holds the record for participations. In 1967, on the heels of his third victory in Indiana, he took the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first and only time. Sharing the #1 Ford Mk IV with fellow countryman Dan Gurney, he found himself in the heart of the American marque's legendary duel with Ferrari. The intensity of the battle was so fierce that the 35th edition of the race is known as the "race of the century."

After qualifying in ninth position, the #1 Ford started the race with Gurney at the wheel, quickly climbing into the lead. After the first refueling, Foyt began his first stint at the top of the field. He was driving when the car had its only real problem of the race when he almost ran out of fuel thanks to a signposting error at his pit. The two Americans worked to increase their lead at a feverish pace, but were still under constant threat by the Ferrari driven by Michael Parkes and Ludovico Scarfiotti. In the end, Gurney and Foyt triumphed and established a new distance record in the balance, more than 5,000 kilometers for the first time ever.

Additionally, A.J. Foyt pulled off a feat still unmatched in the history of motorsport: in a period of less than two weeks, he won the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the two oldest circuit races in the world. "Like at Indianapolis, tradition is what makes Le Mans," he explained upon his return to the 24 Hours circuit in 2017 for the 50th anniversary of his win. "I'm not a nostalgic person, but great progress has been made, it's a magnificent track, a lovely region...it's still Le Mans! There are other 24-hour races in the world, but none can boast the heritage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

Sixteen years later, 5-6 February 1983, the Rolex 24 at Daytona was the scene of one of the most unusual scenarios in the Texan's career.

Originally, A.J. Foyt was driving an Aston Martin Nimrod prototype quickly forced to retire. On Sunday morning, the Porsche 935 shared by Bob Wollek, Claude Ballot-Léna and Preston Henn was in the lead. Taking advantage of an IMSA (promoter of the American endurance championship) regulation allowing a driver to change cars during the race, Preston Henn, owner of the lead Porsche, astutely assessed the media impact a Foyt win would have overseas and offered to let him join his team.

At eight in the morning during a pit stop, Bob Wollek was shocked to see not Ballot-Léna nor Henn, but Foyt ready to take the wheel, in front of a pack of television cameras. "Who's this guy?" exclaimed the French driver, who didn't mince words on the decision to have Foyt take the wheel of a car he did not know mid-race...provoking excitement on the part of the American media supporting the Texan, astounded by the Frenchman's frankness.

But Foyt quickly set his pace and maintained it for five hours, causing the mini-controversary to die naturally when Wollek, Ballot-Léna, Henn and their last minute teammate to win the race. On the mic, Foyt made a point to highlight the work accomplished in the rain by the two French drivers, especially during the night. Two years later, still teammates for Preston Henn, A.J. Foyt and Bob Wollek won a second time together at the Daytona International Speedway, that time with a Porsche 962 along with Al Unser, Sr. and Thierry Boutsen.

Within A.J. Foyt's career, endurance racing now seems like a surprising detour despite the fact he made it into the record books at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and triumphed at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring (which he won in 1985, with Bob Wollek once again).

PHOTO (Copyright - Archives/ACO): When Dan Gurney (seated on the hood) claimed the top step on the podium at his 10th 24 Hours of Le Mans, A.J. Foyt (helmeted at the wheel) won the race as a rookie, for his first and last participation. "I was honored to have Dan as a teammate. After I won, I didn't feel the need to return," explained Foyt in 2017.