Two-time Indy 500 winner Rodger Ward dead at 83
July 5, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Rodger Ward, one of the most dominant drivers in Indianapolis 500 history, died Monday. He was 83.
Ward won the Indy 500 twice and during a six-year stretch from 1959-64 never finished workse than fourth. His victories came in 1959 and 1962.
"Indy makes the race driver," he said in a 1999 interview. "You become famous when you come here. I don't care where else you race in the world."
Ward was the last-surviving Indy winner from the 1950s.
"Winning that race was the greatest thing that happened to me in my life," he said earlier this year.
The trio of Ward, car owner Bob Wilke and builder-mechanic A.J. Watson was known as the "Flying Ws." During their time together, Ward's finishes at Indy were first, second, third, first, fourth and second.
Ward thought he should have won the famed duel with Jim Rathman in 1960 and his battle with A.J. Foyt in 1964.
"But I made Foyt famous," he once said. "So what the hell."
Updated on Monday, Jul 5, 2004 5:02 pm
--------------
I remember his battle with AJ in 1964.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Ward.
July 5, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Rodger Ward, one of the most dominant drivers in Indianapolis 500 history, died Monday. He was 83.
Ward won the Indy 500 twice and during a six-year stretch from 1959-64 never finished workse than fourth. His victories came in 1959 and 1962.
"Indy makes the race driver," he said in a 1999 interview. "You become famous when you come here. I don't care where else you race in the world."
Ward was the last-surviving Indy winner from the 1950s.
"Winning that race was the greatest thing that happened to me in my life," he said earlier this year.
The trio of Ward, car owner Bob Wilke and builder-mechanic A.J. Watson was known as the "Flying Ws." During their time together, Ward's finishes at Indy were first, second, third, first, fourth and second.
Ward thought he should have won the famed duel with Jim Rathman in 1960 and his battle with A.J. Foyt in 1964.
"But I made Foyt famous," he once said. "So what the hell."
Updated on Monday, Jul 5, 2004 5:02 pm
--------------
I remember his battle with AJ in 1964.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Ward.
