Foyt says Tony Stewart a softy

Tony Stewart

AJ Foyt survived his fair share of crashes while racing, and in talking about what advice he had for friend Tony Stewart as Stewart embarks on his final year of Sprint Cup racing, Foyt responded by saying that he hopes Stewart can have a good season.

Foyt was involved in a crash where a driver died in 1956, and said Stewart's involvement in the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. in 2014 has affected him.

"I feel sorry for Tony," Foyt said. "I think people don't realize that wreck really hurt him more. I've been friends with Tony for a long time.

"He's really a soft-hearted person and something like that really bothers you. . . . If you don't have no feelings, it wouldn't bother you, but Tony's got a lot of feelings. And I just hope he goes out on top."