Rodger Ward

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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.

Born in Beloit, Kansas, Ward died in Anaheim, California. 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.

At the time of his retirement, was the only driver to be in the top 10 of all Indianapolis 500 statistics.

Before Indy racing, Ward drove midget cars for the Edelbrock dirt track racing team. He was also the 1951 AAA Stock Car champion.

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1951	48	25	134.867	7	27	34	0	Oil line
1952	34	22	134.139	28	23	130	0	Oil pressure
1953	92	10	137.468	6	16	177	0	Stalled
1954	12	16	139.297	8	22	172	0	Engine
1955	27	30	135.049	30	28	53	0	Crash BS
1956	19	15	141.171	27	8	200	0	Running
1957	8	24	141.321	15	30	27	0	Supercharger
1958	8	11	143.266	14	20	93	0	Fuel pump
1959	5	6	144.035	7	1	200	130	Running
1960	1	3	145.560	5	2	200	58	Running
1961	2	4	146.187	5	3	200	7	Running
1962	3	2	149.371	2	1	200	66	Running
1963	1	4	149.800	6	4	200	0	Running
1964	2	3	156.406	3	2	200	0	Running
1966	26	13	159.468	19	15	74	0	Handling
Totals						2160	261

Starts	15
Poles	0
Front Row	3
Wins	2
Top 5	6
Top 10	7
Retired	8

Ward's finishes from 1959 thru 1963 and 1960 thru 1964 rank as the best five-race finishing streaks in Indianapolis 500 history.

[edit] F1 career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was considered part of the Formula One schedule from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with F1 points and participation. Rodger Ward participated in 12 Formula One 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 races, set 0 fast laps, and finished on the podium 2 times. He accumlated a total of 14 championship points.

[edit] Awards

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.
He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

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