Foyt has no words of wisdom for Tony Stewart in wake of tragedy

Stewart sitting it out likely preparing his defense strategy

A.J. Foyt is Tony Stewart's racing hero, but the sport's legendary champion said Thursday he wouldn't know how to counsel Stewart in the aftermath of last weekend's accident in upstate New York that killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr.

"I've never been confronted with something like that, so it's hard for me to say what to do; I just don't know," Foyt told The Star. "I feel bad for Tony, I feel bad for the (young man) that got killed, I feel bad for the whole thing.

"It's one of the bad things that (can) happen in racing."

Ward, 20, was laid to rest Thursday near his home in Port Leyden, N.Y.

Stewart still hasn't publicly commented on the accident that occurred after Ward angrily got out of his car to confront Stewart, who was still driving his car.

Foyt said only Stewart knows what happened in that fateful moment.

"I don't think nobody else can say," he said. "The average person can't voice an opinion because (they weren't) there. I certainly wasn't."

Stewart will not drive in this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway. Jeff Burton will replace him.

Stewart sat out last weekend's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Indy Star