Rodger Ward, one of the greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500-Mile Race history, died July 5 in Anaheim, Calif. He was 83. Ward won the race twice and during a six-year stretch between 1959 and 1964 never finished worse than fourth during that span. His victories came in 1959 and 1962, and he was the last surviving winner from the 1950s.
He was USAC sprint car champion five times. He was also a USAC stock car champion, and he drove for the factory Lincoln team in the Pan-American Road race. He drove the famous Offenhauser roadsters at Indy from 1951 to 1963 and at Monza, Italy, in “The Race of Two Worlds” between the best European teams and the Americans in 1957 and 1958.
From 1959 to 1964, Ward never finished lower than fourth at Indy — a feat which has never been duplicated. He also drove the rear-engine Indy racers and almost won the 500 a third time in 1966 with a Ford-engined car before his teammate, Formula One Driver Graham Hill, won after Ward’s car failed late in the race.
Few realize that Ward was partially responsible for the biggest technological change in Indy history — the switch to the rear-engine configuration which increased speed while dramatically increasing safety. In 1960, Formula 1 World Champion Jack Brabham called Ward and asked if he could arrange a practice run at Indy in his Cooper Formula 1 car. Ward contacted Tony Hullman, the owner of the speedway, and arranged for Brabham to run at the speedway.
Ward also drove the Cooper and agreed a rear-engine car would be competitive with the dominate “Offy” roadsters of the era. The next year, Brabham was back with a green rear-engined Cooper which ran competitively, finishing ninth. The following years brought the invasion of rear-engined Lotus-Fords and Formula One drivers, such as Jimmy Clark, Graham Hill, Gurney and many more.
This was the time of the great crossover, when it was realized that the great drivers from both sides of the Atlantic could compete on paved tracks. However, the Europeans were not keen to run on dirt ovals, as Ward told a story about taking Indy and Formula 1 World Champion Clark, to watch a sprint car race. Ward offered to arrange a test ride the following day, but Clark declined saying, “Are you crazy?” or words to that effect, according to Ward.
While Ward helped start the rear-engine revolution in American racing, he also participated in many sports car races and two Formula 1 races: the first at Sebring in 1959 with a midget and then at Watkins Glen in 1964 in a Lotus-BRM. He owned and drove his own Cooper-Monaco sports car, which for a time ran a development engine for the Indy Ford project.
But for racing buffs, Ward competed in one of the most unusual races in American racing history. In 1959, he beat the best sports cars in the United States at a “Formula Libre” race at Lime Rock, Conn., with a dirt track midget. In those dim days, USAC drivers were looked down upon by rich easterners with their Jaguars, Astons-Martins and Ferraris, but Ward dazzled the world by winning one heat with his little dirt track car against the best sports cars in the country.
But perhaps Ward’s greatest contribution to the sport was his early realization that if he and the sport were to survive, an elevated degree of professionalism both on and off the track was necessary. This realization occurred after a failure in his car resulted in a crash that took the life of his close friend, Billy Vukovich, during the 1955 Indy 500. Urged to not retire by Vukovich’s brother, Ward rededicated his life and his efforts to becoming a true professional.
He changed his playboy image, quit drinking and smoking, and married. Thereafter, his career, in this dangerous sport, soared to new heights and numerous championships. His attitude toward the sport was also reflected in his relationship with other drivers seeking to upgrade the image of their sport and profession. When not racing, these drivers toured the country for Champion Spark Plugs as spokesmen for safety and good driving practices.
RODGER WARD SERVICES INFORMATION INDIANAPOLIS
Memorial service: A memorial service for Ward will take place at 5 p.m. (PDT), Sunday, July 11, San Diego Automotive Museum, 2080 Pan American Plaza, No. 12, Balboa Park, CA 92101-1636. (Web: www.sdautomuseum.org)
Cards and letters: Cards and letters can be sent to Sherrie Ward, 24701 Raymond Way, No. 29, Lake Forest, CA 92630.
Donations: Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Another sign political correctness in America has gone too far. Story reprinted from 
