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Seven-time Indycar champion and the first four-time Indy 500 champion AJ Foyt has survived yet another attack by Africanised “killer” bees while working on his West Texas ranch.
In a press release titled AJ Foyt vs Killer Bees: Foyt 2 – Bees 0, AJ Foyt Racing revealed that Foyt was treated at a local hospital and released once his system had stabilised.
Foyt, 83, survived a first attack in August 2005 when he sustained more than 200 stings in his head alone.
In both cases he was working on his bulldozer when he disturbed the beehives.
By all accounts, the second attack was more severe and more dangerous because he had been sensitised to bee stings from his first encounter.
The latest attack has forced Foyt to miss the Sebring 12 Hours this weekend, where he was due to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday night and serve as grand marshal on Saturday.
Foyt’s last major victory as a driver was the 1985 Sebring 12 Hours, and the car he co-drove to that victory with Bob Wollek is scheduled to be at the race.
“I’m very sorry I can’t be there because I was really looking forward to this weekend,” said Foyt, who is expected to make a full recovery.
“I was doing some work on my ranch out west and got attacked by killer bees. I look like I had a fight with Mike Tyson and lost.
“Right now I’m on so much medication that I’m not feeling that great so I’ll take the doctors’ advice to rest for the next couple days.”
In 2012, Foyt was scheduled to be the grand marshal for the Daytona 24 Hours but picked up a life-threatening staph infection days before the event that led to several weeks in hospital.