He spent a week in Mexico undergoing stem cell treatments and underwent successful surgery Wednesday on his right foot so they wouldn't have to amputate a toe. But, as you might imagine, A.J. Foyt won't let his latest medical travails alter his 60-year routine.

"I'm feeling a little rough today because I just got home from the hospital but I'll be in Indianapolis next month, so that should make me feel better," said the 82-year-old legend who is fielding three cars for Conor Daly, Carlos Munoz and Zach Veach in the 101st Indy 500. "And we damn sure better run better than we did last weekend."

The original four-time Indianapolis 500 winner's toughness has never been in question as he's defied death on and off the race track for seven decades.

His greatest hits list reads like this:

And since he retired from driving it's not been any easier. He received an artificial left knee in 2006, was in for heart surgery in 2010, was admitted to the hospital while fighting a staph infection in 2012, had his right knee replaced, left hip replaced, and had back surgery performed in 2013.

In 2014, IndyCar's all-time winner underwent successful triple by-pass surgery, then got infected and spent eight days on a ventilator and 10 days in ICU while he fought off sepsis.

Because of all his injuries and arthritis, A.J. has been in constant pain in his legs, feet, ankles, shoulders and back to he was convinced to try stem cell therapy. He spent April 11-19 in Cancun because Mexico can grow the volume of stem cells in the hundreds of millions whereas it's only hundreds of thousands in the USA.

"They told me I should start feeling better in two-and-half to three months," said the man who came to IMS as a rookie in 1958, drove in 35 consecutive Indy 500s and has never missed a month of May since. "And yesterday they thought I might lose a toe but they figured out a way to keep it and straighten it out. They're good people but I'm tired of being cut on.

"They said I needed to be back at the hospital next month to get the stitches out and I told them 'no chance.' I'll get some tweezers and pull 'em out myself because next month I'm booked."

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Foyt recovering from stem cell treatment - Racer