Of the handful of NASCAR drivers who tried their hand at the Indianapolis 500 during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Donnie Allison unquestionably had the most success at the Brickyard.

Because the Indy 500 in those days was run on the morning of Memorial Day, drivers could attempt to run that race and the World 600 at Charlotte in the same year. LeeRoy Yarbrough was the first big-name stock-car driver to make the 500 field in 1969, and Allison followed suit one year later, to be eventually joined by Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison.

Donnie Allison, left and A.J. Foyt formed an amicable impromptu relationship, with Allison driving Foyt's second entry at the Indianapolis 500 in 1970.

Allison said Foyt didn't really take him seriously at first, but as time went on, he realized Allison really wanted to race Indy.

Donnie, who now lives in Salisbury, N.C., took time out Monday and talked about his experiences 40 years ago, driving for A.J. Foyt at Indy.

"A.J. and I were pretty good friends through our association with Ford," Allison said. "I drove [Banjo Matthews'] car after he drove Banjo's car, and I drove the Wood Brothers car and he drove the Wood Brothers car. And every time I'd see him, I'd say, 'When you gonna let me drive your Indy car?' Well, I kept on, and he'd say, 'You can't drive an Indy car, you're a taxi driver.'

"So then in 1970 at Daytona Beach, he said, 'You really want to drive one?' and I said, 'Yes, I do.' So they were gonna run a test up there [at Phoenix]. So I went to the test and drove the car around. So he told me to come to Houston. He had a car that his father and I could put together and I could run. So I went to Houston and helped his dad work on the car a little."

Allison said Foyt didn't really take him seriously at first, but as time went on, he realized Allison really wanted to race Indy.

"He always thought I was joking when I said, 'Let me run your Indy car,' " Allison said. "I ran a lot of supermodifieds in 1966 and '67, and a little bit of '68, and I really liked them. I guess I always wanted to run Indy. All drivers, I think, at some time -- maybe not now, but back in my day -- wanted to win Indianapolis. I didn't win but I ran well."

With limited experience in open-wheeled cars, Allison literally had to get up to speed quickly. And first on his list was passing Indy's complicated rookie test, in which drivers have to prove their competency by completing a series of four 10-lap runs at a specified speed. (Continued)