A.J. Foyt hospitalized for infection

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 Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

According to an item posted on the track's official website, Foyt issued the following statement:

“I am really sorry that I can’t be there this weekend for the Rolex 24. I was really looking forward to it because I thought it was a great honor to be asked to be the grand marshal of the 50th anniversary of that race and considered it to be one of the great highlights of my career. I feel so bad that I let everyone down. I was also looking forward to seeing some of my old friends and the race cars that I drove in that race. It was going to be a really fun weekend for me but I guess I’ll be watching the race from my hospital room — yep the doctors pulled rank on me. And I hate to admit, but I think they’re right — this time. I’d like to wish everyone a safe race and I’ll be with you in spirit.”