Despite Mix-Up, Foyt Qualifies for 32nd Straight Time

When A.J. Foyt first came to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1958, they allowed drivers three warmup laps before starting their qualifying run.

A few years ago, a change was made, allowing only two warmup laps.

When Foyt took the green flag Sunday for his try at qualifying for a 32nd consecutive Indy 500, he apparently forgot about the change.

His first official lap was 215.553 m.p.h., but when he quickly jumped into the 217s, it raised a lot of eyebrows. Foyt had not realized that he was on an official lap his third time around. He thought he was still warming up.

“I guess I was asleep,” Foyt said. “I honestly didn’t know I’d taken the green flag. I guess I was just too keyed up. Or maybe I wasn’t keyed up enough.

“Once I realized what I’d done, I got to hustling and things turned out pretty good. We’re in good shape for the race.”

Foyt, 54, a four-time Indy winner, qualified on the inside of the fourth row at 217.136.

Foyt has not won since 1977, and has failed to win an Indy car race since 1981.