INDIANAPOLIS – Former National Speed Sports News staffer Anne Fornoro has spent the better part of the last 40 years working as the publicist for the legendary AJ Foyt.
Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Fornoro was honored as the 2024 recipient of the Robin Miller Award.
Fornoro worked at National Speed Sport News from 1980 to 1984 before joining US Tobacco in 1985 – Foyt’s sponsor at the time.
She has been with Foyt ever since.
The Robin Miller Award is to honor an unheralded individual who has devoted a significant portion of their life to IndyCar racing while bringing an unbridled passion and unrelenting work ethic to enrich the sport.
Previous winners include the late Robin Miller, perhaps the most important journalist in Indianapolis 500 history in 2019, the late Bob Jenkins in 2021, Judi Dominick and the late T.E. McHale in 2022 and Ziggy Harcus of Andretti Global in 2023.
Fornoro grew up watching races in Long Island. She married the late National Midget Hall of Famer Drew Fornoro, who passed away last year.
A long list of friends and drivers she worked with over the years, including Mario Andretti, Tony Stewart, Santino Ferrucci, Kenny Brack, Al Unser, Jr. and others congratulated her through a video tribute.
AJ Foyt and her daughter, Marie, were in attendance at the award ceremony Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Miller’s sister, Diane Zachary, presented the award to Fornoro.
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was Robin’s home,” Zachary said. “It was his very special place.
“You are so deserving of this award.”
Nicknamed Mother Superior by Foyt, Fornoro has used professionalism and kindness as her trademarks in public relations.
“This is very touching,” Fornoro said. “A little warning would have been nice.
“I usually don’t get in front of the microphone. As a PR rep, you need to put the stars in front of the microphone.
“Robin Miller was very special to me. I miss him a lot. I miss his columns. There were times I didn’t agree with him, but he always wrote from the heart, and I appreciated that.
“He appreciated the fact I came from Midget Racing. This will go in a very special place in my home.
“Thank you. Thank you very much.”
Ferrucci asked Fornoro to give a Foyt PG-13 story. She told a tale of when Foyt set the pits on fire at the 1985 Indianapolis when he stuck his arm in the buckeye, and it ignited.
“Easy now,” Foyt bellowed to Fornoro.
But the incident made People Magazine and Foyt’s sponsor got some great attention.
“People say I should write a book about AJ,” Fornoro said. “He pays me to not write a book.”