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A.J. Foyt excited to drive Indy 500 pace car

The Columbian
Published: May 12, 2011, 12:00am

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A.J. Foyt will be back behind the wheel in Indianapolis.

The four-time Indy 500 winner was asked to be the celebrity pace-car driver when real-estate mogul Donald Trump backed out to focus on a possible presidential run amid complaints that his presence would take attention away from the race itself. Trump’s decision left Foyt, one of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s icons, with an unexpected opportunity.

He’ll get behind the wheel of a 2011 Camaro SS convertible for the 100-year anniversary race on May 29, 50 years after his first Indy 500 win in 1961.

Foyt made a record 35 consecutive starts in the 500, ending in 1992. This will be the 54th consecutive year he’s been involved at the track as a driver or an owner.

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Cliff Brunt can be reached at http://twitter.com/cliffbruntap.

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