HIGH EXPECTATIONS Foyt IV carries family tradition into his first Indianapolis 500

The 18-year-old rookie wants the chance to prove he can drive, too.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A.J. Foyt IV knows he will always be measured by his grandfather's standards.
He's not worried about matching A.J. Foyt Jr.'s resume -- four Indianapolis 500 wins, a Daytona 500 title, a win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and seven Indy-car points championships.
Few could.
All Foyt IV wants is a chance to prove he can drive, too.
"People expect you to do so much more than you can because you've got the Foyt name," Foyt IV said. "He tells me to do what I'm capable of doing and not to overextend myself."
Young talent
Some think the Indy Racing League rookie, who will turn 19 on Sunday when he drives in his first 500-mile race, already is doing too much.
The youngest-known qualifier in Indy history has been getting a crash course in the speedway's dangers.
He's had three accidents in less than a month on one of America's trickiest tracks -- twice in practice and once in April's private testing. Foyt, the team owner, has even joked he should give his grandson a copy of the Willie Nelson song, "Hello Walls."
Foyt IV acknowledges he has struggled, as have many first-time drivers at Indianapolis.
Few drivers know Indianapolis better than the elder Foyt, who defends his grandson to those who say he is too inexperienced to race in the 500.
"He's had so much pressure on him," the 68-year-old racing great said. "He wants to win. It's not like he's a complete idiot."
Foyt IV has proven he can drive well in difficult circumstances.
During his first qualifying attempt May 11, a wind gust nearly sent him into the wall in Turn 2 of the 21/2-mile oval. He somehow avoided crashing and coasted to a stop on the back straightaway with his car facing backward.
Foyt IV saved his car and qualified later in the day at 224.177 mph, making him the third-slowest starter in the 33-car field.
He always has had to face his grandfather's unforgiving temperament and high standards.
"I don't know about warm and fuzzy," the younger Foyt said with a laugh. "He's still nice or mean. He's been that way since I can remember."
Anthony Foyt didn't always want to drive, though.
He spent much of his early childhood working with the horses trained by his father, Tony Foyt, and A.J. expected his grandson to become a jockey.
As Foyt IV grew, though, it became apparent that he would be too tall -- and he finally realized automobile racing was in his blood.
At age 9, his uncle, Jerry, and a friend, Mike Cockayne, helped Foyt IV purchase a junior dragster. Two national titles later, Foyt IV moved to go-carts -- and the comparisons became inevitable.
Grandson and grandfather had the same name, the same No. 14 car, the same mannerisms, the same eyes and the same passions.
"He's the same way I was. He wants to win every time he goes out," the elder Foyt said. "He's going to have a learning curve, but the sooner you do it, the better off you are."
Getting started
Along the way, A.J. has helped the progression.
After spending six years in go-carts and one season in a SCCA Formula Continental car, Foyt IV received an Infiniti Pro Series car for his 18th birthday from his grandfather.
He won the points title as a rookie and quickly jumped to the Indy Racing League, where he's driving for his grandfather's team.
The transition has not been smooth. In three races, his best finish is 17th. He crashed April 13 in Japan, and he's still learning how to give his crew the proper feedback to make changes to the car.
At times, Foyt has not been so grandfatherly.
"He gets on me pretty good sometimes," Foyt IV said. "Being young, I need that really sometimes.
"He'll chew me out for a couple of hours and then we're all right."
With his name already in the Indy record book, he wants to add another chapter by making the Foyts only the second family to win an Indy 500 in two different generations. The first was Al Unser, a four-time winner, and Al Unser Jr., a two-time winner.
For Foyt IV, it's all about making a name for himself.
"I don't put no more pressure on myself," he said. "I push myself as hard as I can and sometimes it gets me in trouble.
"But my main goal is to win this race and win it as soon as possible."