INDY DIARIES: Trials and tribulations of the rookie test

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 rookie at Indianapolis in the 1950s or 1960s came under immense scrutiny from fellow drivers and the United States Auto Club officials.

"You had to run two or three [Champ Car] races before you even qualified for an Indy test," said A.J. Foyt. "Before I even got to Indianapolis I had bumped Pat O'Connor out of a race at Springfield [in 1957] and they [USAC] said, 'we want you to know right now that we are going to watch every move you make today on the race track'.

"I raced that day with my heart beating, and when [Tony] Bettenhausen and somebody else passed me up high, I made sure I stayed out of everybody's way. I mean, they would send you home."

And if you were OK'd to take a test at Indy, it was more reason to be nervous.

"If you made any kind of mistake taking your test, got out of shape or anything, and they turned on the yellow, you went home until next year," said Super Tex. "A guy named Leon Clum did something, they flunked him and he came back next year. But he'd lost one eye and he never made it.

"Eddie Sachs was a damn good driver, and they sent him home."