2nd to Foyt in 61

AJ Foyt and Eddie Sachs dominated the 1961 Indy 500.

With about 30 laps left in the race they came into the pits. Eddie got in and out cleanly, AJ didn't. There were problems, he only got half the fuel he needed and he would have to stop again, but he didn't know this at the time.

AJ beat Eddie back onto the track and drove like hell. His car, being hundreds of pounds lighter due to that missing fuel, was now the fastest of the two. Eddie went all out to keep up, burning up his tires in the process.

This spectacular race closed in on the finish and AJ saw the sign telling him that he had to come into the pits for fuel. Eddie took the lead. By the time Foyt got back out onto the track Eddie was 17 seconds ahead. He started to enjoy the idea of winning his first 500.

The roadster was running great, the Offy was in full song and the Firestones, the Firestones! One of the tires was showing cord. Eddie had scrubbed off too much rubber on the right rear tire while trying to keep up with the lighter Foyt!

Eddie wanted to win this race more than anything else in the world but he didn't want to die trying. If that tire blew he would spin out of control in a place that was unforgiving. He had to come into the pits to change that tire.

As Eddie Sachs sped back onto the racetrack after the stop AJ Foyt passed him.