It’s rare for drivers to give up a chance of competing in Formula 1. Widely considered to be the pinnacle of open-wheel racing, the format is arguably the most popular motorsports discipline across the world. Fans of all ages are eager to see the single-seat vehicles in action, while drivers work tirelessly to climb up the ladder to eventually compete in the sport someday. However, not everyone shares the ambition, despite the fame, money, and plaudits that come with it.

A. J. Foyt, winner of seven American National Championships, rejected a chance to compete in Formula 1. The Texas-based veteran racer spoke about the underlying reasons behind his decision in a candid interview with Tony Stewart.

Foyt didn’t want to compromise his integrity

Technically, A. J. Foyt. is considered a Formula 1 driver. Best known for his open-wheel racing career, the driver was the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. At that time, ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ was considered a part of the Formula 1 championship, which is why his name can be found in a list of F1 drivers. However, he has never competed in any other Grand Prix, despite showing great versatility throughout his career. Foyt secured wins at the Daytona 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans as well but rejected the opportunity to compete against the sport’s heavyweights in Formula 1.

Sharing his reasons with Tony Stewart, Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. said, “I didn’t like Formula 1 because Troy Ruttman won the Indy 500 and I was all for a ride. He said, ‘But A.J. when you go over there, they gonna tell you who can win and who can’t.’… It would be like, if me and you were on the same course, if you could outrun me that day, you would outrun me. If I could outrun your b-tt, I would outrun you too. I never believed in it like that. I believed, whoever was the best that day because I’m going to be better than you one day and you might be better than me the next day.”

Believing that his integrity would be on the line if he competed in Formula 1, A. J. Foyt went on to say, “Why would I want you to outrun me when I can outrun you or vice versa? That’s how I’ve looked at it all my life. So I knew I wouldn’t fit in.” The Texas-based driver would have undoubtedly done well in Formula 1, going by his success in other motorsports disciplines such as NASCAR, IndyCar, and endurance racing. However, fate had other plans and the veteran driver has no regrets looking back at his career.

While Foyt’s legacy was mainly built on oval tracks, the veteran driver was also a fantastic racer on road courses, as seen at Le Mans in 1967 when he along with Dan Gurney triumphed with Ford’s Mark IV. Known for his brash and bold personality, the Texan has expressed his disdain for Formula 1 more than once before, despite the growing popularity of the sport in the United States. He once said, “I wouldn’t cross the street to go watch a Formula 1 race because you know who’s going to win. That’s not racing.”

A. J. Foyt passed up the opportunity to race for Ferrari

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Ferrari is arguably the most iconic motorsports team in the world. Few drivers would relinquish the opportunity to compete for the Italian manufacturer, but it seems like A. J. Foyt is one of them. The racer has enjoyed an illustrious career and takes pride in competing on the racetrack with integrity. However, he felt that competing for Enzo Ferrari’s team would not have been a right fit for his driving style, especially considering the immense success he has achieved across various motorsports disciplines.

Revealing details about his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Foyt said, “I was offered a ride years ago for Ferrari, but when they said you’d be the No. 2 race car driver, even if you could win a race, that’s when I decided to stay with my Sprint Cars and Midgets. “If I could win the race, I was going to win the race, I wasn’t going to run behind the team’s other car. I don’t believe in racing that way.”

A. J. Foyt’s no-nonsense demeanor may not have fit in with Ferrari’s culture as well. Given all that he had achieved in the sport, the racer wanted to be the main driver of the team, and understandably so. Ultimately, the recently turned 90-year-old doesn’t regret passing the opportunity by, even though many drivers may struggle to understand the decision. Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. can look back on his career with pride, knowing he didn’t sacrifice his values or morals for the sake of money or bragging rights.