Foyt to miss final two IndyCar races after surgery for staph infection

Published Aug. 19, 2015 11:40 a.m. ET

foxsports

HOUSTON (AP) -- A.J. Foyt will miss the final two races of the IndyCar season following surgery to treat a staph infection in his right knee.

The four-time Indianapolis 500 winner had surgery Aug. 10 on his artificial knee. He had a similar procedure in 2012 on his left knee.

This latest surgery required the removal of the prosthesis so an antibiotic-infused cement spacer could be inserted to clear the infection. It is expected to remain in place for six weeks, then Foyt will require another procedure to have a new artificial knee implanted.

''Well, this is one of the worst things I've gone through in my life,'' Foyt said. ''Knowing I have five or six weeks dealing with this and then having to get operated on again to take the spacer out and put in a new knee . . . this staph infection, it's the second time I've had it and it's really beat me down.

''I don't know if I'll ever be like I used to be but I'm sure hoping, so I'm fighting awful hard.''

The 80-year-old had a triple bypass last November that caused him to miss the first five races of the year.

Foyt Racing fields IndyCar entries for Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth.