Infiniti Pro Series: Kansas 100

Topics:  Kansas 100

A.J Foyt IV
Airton Dare
July 7, 2002

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS

MODERATOR: I am currently joined on stage by today's winner, Airton Dare. Airton's previous best finish was a second at Pikes Peak back in June of 2000, and he is also 2000 IRL Rookie of the Year. And again, the gentleman sitting next to him who is a familiar face to the interview room today, A.J. Foyt, his second time visit to the interview room. Always glad to see A.J. back, and back on a happy note. So, gentlemen, thank you for coming in. We appreciate it. Airton, congratulations and tell us about the run out there today. You looked great pretty much from the get-go and worked your way through.

AIRTON DARE: Yeah, my car was perfect. We had only one small problem that was after restarts, and after the two, the tire pressures my car was a little bit loose and that takes only five to eight laps. After that, I was able to put the car whatever I want, inside, outside and flat-out all the way around. Those guys did a great job and gave me such a good car to drive.

A.J. FOYT IV: Like I said earlier, this is my first major race that I won here in Kansas since years back, so really I know how happy I was then. I know how happy Anthony was and I know how happy Airton was. So, all I can say is to go something like today is being at Harrah's Casino hitting a double jackpot. But both boys drove a hell of a race, and what else can I ask for. Like I told him, he was talking about that till the last stop. I raised some air pressure up on the right side and then he seemed to be pretty happy. Then I run one set of tires with two runs and I did that, so we didn't have that to fall back. But all in all to win these races, you have to have a crew and you also have to have a driver. So I have both of them.

A.J. FOYT IV: I won at, I think -- I can't remember if I won the sprint race when I flew here that night and then the next race won a dirt race, 100-miler or something like that. I know somebody said: How in the hell did you run three races in two days? But it's hard to remember. I've been fortunate enough and won so many damn races, how can you keep up. (Laughter). No, not really. Way I looked at it, I had my great days. I had my glory and it makes me so happy to see the new boys. When you look at the average age of Larry, and you look at Anthony and you look at him, the average age of my drivers average is 22 years old; so that's kind of spooky. But like I said, they both have got good heads on their shoulder and they did a hell of a job. Like Anthony, if you recall when I walked out of the press room earlier when I was out of the door he said: "Paw-Paw do you have to work now?" I said: "Just because you won a race and you're Airton's right front tire man, yeah." So him and Airton are good friends, and he has been changing right front for Airton and stopping in the pit. Airton said Anthony told him, he said, "I showed you how to win." "I could win this." These two are characters. Don't try to follow his footsteps.

AIRTON DARE: We are racing here for the victory and I am pretty sure that everybody, all of the drivers, they would do the same. I didn't do anything. You guys could see on the tape. I give him some room. Actually, more room than he gave to me previous on the race. But he's the kind of guy that he wins a lot of races, and you know he's not used to finishing second. We talk a little bit to the spotter of the guys, you always do that when you are a lap down and you are between leader and second place or third, you try to stay out of the way because you are not in a fight for the race, and they did a great job, Raul and I don't remember who else was there, Mac, they got out of the way and let me go by. It just had better separation than Sam. It seems like, I'm not sure, but he missed a gear or something like that he run too much on the regular. That slow him down a little bit and I took a chance and made a move like him.

A.J. FOYT IV: I think we was in contention all year. On two or three different occasions we was up there. We haven't just walked around getting our ass bit off. The way I look at when I look at my whole career, I look over the last five years: Won Indy, won two Championships, two seconds; so I can't say we have had bad year. Just because maybe six months you are going to run into a dry spell. One of the greatest teams is Roger Penske, and look at the dry spell he had there for two or three years. A good team never quits, and that's one thing that you can say about Airton. I've got people like that, that if they start to lay down, and then they go out the back door. That's the way I run and the way people I drove for. A lot of times I didn't win races, but I was always there working hard to win races. It's not that nobody ever give up, and sure, any time you win, it's a big boost to everybody, because that's what everybody works for. It's just like you writing that column. You write a good column, everybody says how good; and if you write one that ain't worth a shit, they tell you. And I think you get a lot of negative comments. (Laughter).

A.J. FOYT IV: The crew asked if they has to spend another night. I told them: "Y'all are going home right now. Because the money that Harrah's gives us is going to be trickling right down if we stay the night."

A.J. FOYT IV: I thought he was very good in Nashville last year. He fired off a rocket. I thought if he could control it, he would be a winner. No, he's young. He's eager and he gives it 100% all of the time, and that's the type of race drivers that I like.