Auto Racing Notes

By: The Associated Press | Times-Dispatch
Published: January 28, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. A.J. Foyt has been hospitalized in Houston for complications from knee surgery and will skip the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 77-year-old Foyt had knee surgery two weeks ago, and an infection sent him to the hospital Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner said Friday that Foyt may stay in the hospital through the weekend.

She said he had been up and walking since the surgery but developed an infection this week.

Foyt is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Foyt was scheduled to be the grand marshal today at Daytona International Speedway.

Ganassi teams figure to be up front

Chip Ganassi hopes to improve on last year's 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

It hardly seems possible. Ganassi's two-car team finished first and second in the twice-around-the-clock event, sweeping the prestigious endurance race at the hallowed track.

Two-time defending Grand-Am champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, along with Joey Hand and Graham Rahal, ended up in victory lane after a one-lap sprint to the checkered flag. IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti and NASCAR drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray celebrated alongside them after settling for second.

Pruett's team will try to repeat when the 24-hour race begins this afternoon. Dixon's crew will try to flip the script.

Ganassi says it's going to be tough to top last year's race, but adds it could happen.

Wilson returns after suffering back injury

Justin Wilson is back in a race car for the first time since breaking his back in an IndyCar accident in August.

Wilson is driving for Michael Shank Racing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Englishman suffered a compression fracture of the fifth vertebra when his car went off course and landed hard at Mid-Ohio. He spent more than two months in a back brace and has been eager to race again.

He has teamed with NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger and Grand-Am regulars Ozz Negri and John Pew in the twice-round-the-clock race that begins today.

Wilson this week also announced he'll drive for Dale Coyne Racing in the upcoming IndyCar season. He'll test the new Dallara DW12 next week at Sebring.