The upcoming AJ Foyt biography will feature some of the most remarkable racing tales ever told.

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      Few racing drivers have had careers as lengthy and successful as A.J. Foyt, which explains why, despite the first volume of his biography stretching to 656 pages, a second volume is forthcoming. Octane Press is now accepting pre-orders for the book in advance of its July release, giving you a few months to complete the first volume if you haven't done so.

      Anthony Joseph Foyt is primarily recognized for being the first individual to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, joining a club that currently includes only three other drivers—and no one has won the event more than four times. Additionally, Foyt is the sole driver to have triumphed at the Indy 500, Daytona 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1987, he established a closed-course speed record of 257.123 mph in an Oldsmobile Aerotech that still stands today.

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      In this second volume, author Art Garner highlights Foyt’s life and career starting from 1978, the year after Foyt secured his final Indy 500 victory. Despite retiring from that race, Foyt continued to compete actively until the early 1990s. At the age of 58, he participated in the 1993 Indy 500 but decided to retire immediately after Robby Gordon, who was driving a Foyt-owned vehicle, crashed during practice. Nonetheless, he returned to Indy for NASCAR’s 1994 Brickyard 400, attempting (but failing) to qualify for that race in the subsequent two years.

      Fernando Alonso’s continued participation in Formula 1 at 44 years old (even if not fully enjoying it) seems noteworthy today, but Foyt’s career serves as a reminder that such longevity was more common in the past, provided drivers could navigate an era lacking today’s significantly enhanced safety protocols.

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      Given the extensive duration of Foyt’s racing career—35 years in what we now refer to as IndyCar—it’s understandable that Garner required a second volume to tell the complete story. The second part is also expected to offer insights into Foyt’s life after victories became less frequent, focusing on his transition from driver to team owner. If it is of similar length to the first volume, it should be perfect for a lengthy flight as well.

      The book will be priced at $46.95, but you can pre-order it from the publisher for $39.95. Even the standard price aligns with recent increases in hardcover book costs. In earlier times, a two-volume biography of a prominent racing driver would likely have been produced in smaller quantities, making it harder to find and more costly, but fortunately, motorsport literature is becoming increasingly abundant and mainstream.