Foyt says bump day dispute ‘was no big deal’

A.J. Foyt on Monday downplayed tension with his grandson, race car driver A.J. Foyt IV, in their failed pursuit of a starting spot in this week's Indianapolis 500.

Foyt IV left Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday without speaking to reporters after stepping out of A.J. Foyt Racing's No. 41 car prior to bump day qualifying. He couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

Foyt IV was struggling to get the speed necessary to make the race. Jacques Lazier later drove the car and failed to qualify.

"It was no big deal," the elder Foyt said Monday, declining to say what transpired with his grandson. "Things like that happen."

The team owner said he regretted not going to Lazier sooner. Lazier was one of four drivers who failed to qualify. The others were Paul Tracy, rookie Jay Howard and Milka Duno.

"I tried to do something in a couple of hours that's hard to do when you haven't run here in a year," Foyt said.

Lazier's last IndyCar race was in October. Indianapolis Star