INDY DIARIES: Foyt's rude introduction to the Speedway

Over 99 runnings, the Indianapolis 500 has become the most famous event in motorsport. That iconic status is built on a bedrock of hundreds of small stories, and to celebrate the centennial race, RACER.com has asked some of the people who are part of Indy's fabric to share a few of those stories with us. Check back every day between now and race day for a new 'Indy Diary' entry.

A.J. Foyt got a rude introduction to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1958.

A highly-touted rookie from the sprint-car ranks, the 23-year-old Texan was set to drive the vaunted Dean Van Lines Special with master mechanic Clint Brawner.

"I walked into the USAC office to sign in and, I think it was Frankie Bain [USAC registrar], and I said: 'I'm here to drive for Dean Van Lines' and he said: 'How do we know that?'" recalled Foyt some 58 years later. "He said, 'We don't know that, so you come back when the car gets here.'"

Foyt was flabbergasted but didn't know anybody, so he turned around and left the USAC building without getting a credential. "I walked on the outside of garage area for a week until Clint Brawner got there," he said with a chuckle.

He qualified on the outside of Row 4, but got one more lesson from the establishment.

"After I made the race, they said all rookie drivers had to bring their helmets to the magnaflux station. I didn't know any better, but it was the older guys pulling a prank on the rookies."