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Rodger Ward
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rodger Ward (January 10, 1921 – July 5, 2004) was an American racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion. Ward was born in Beloit, Kansas, and died in Anaheim, California.
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Ward shocked the midget car racing world when he broke Offenhauser motor's long winning streak by using Vic Edelbrock's Ford 60 "shaker" motor at Gilmore Stadium on August 10, 1950.[1] The motor was one of the first motors to feature nitromethane. Ward and Edelbrock went to the Orange Show Stadium the following night and won again. Ward used his midget car in 1959 to beat the top expensive and exotic sports cars in a Formula Libre race at Lime Rock Park.[2] Midget cars were normally considered competitive for oval tracks only before that time.
He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1950-1966 seasons with over 150 starts, including the 1951-1964 and 1966 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten in more than half his starts, with 26 victories.
He won the 1951 AAA Stock Car championship. His 1959 season ended by competing in the only United States Grand Prix held at Sebring Raceway.[2]
- In 1992, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
- He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1995.
- Ward was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1995.[2]
- Ward is a member of the Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Indianapolis.[2]
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- Ward's finishes from 1959 thru 1963 and 1960 thru 1964 rank as the best and second best five-race finishing streaks in Indianapolis 500 history.[3]
The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Rodger Ward participated in 12 World Championship races, including 10 starts at Indy along with the 1959 United States Grand Prix and the 1963 United States Grand Prix. He started on the pole 0 times, won 1 race, set 0 fastest laps, and finished on the podium 2 times. He accumulated a total of 14 championship points.
- ^ Vic Edelbrock's Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Retrieved January 11, 2007
- ^ a b c d Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (name is spelled incorrectly), Retrieved January 11, 2007
- ^ Indianapolis 500: Best 5-Year Finishing Streaks, Retrieved January 11, 2007
| Preceded by Jimmy Bryan |
Indianapolis 500 Winner 1959 |
Succeeded by Jim Rathmann |
| Preceded by A. J. Foyt |
Indianapolis 500 Winner 1962 |
Succeeded by Parnelli Jones |
| Indianapolis 500 Winners |
|---|
| Four-time winners A. J. Foyt • Al Unser, Sr. • Rick Mears Three-time winners Two-time winners One win |
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