Rodger Ward

Information about Rodger Ward

Rodger Ward (January 10, 1921July 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.

Midget car racing

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.

Championship cars

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.

Other car racing

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]

Awards

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
19514825134.867727340Oil line
19523422134.13928231300Oil pressure
19539210137.4686161770Stalled
19541216139.2978221720Engine
19552730135.0493028530Crash BS
19561915141.1712782000Running
1957824141.3211530270Supercharger
1958811143.2661420930Fuel pump
195956144.03571200130Running
196013145.5605220058Running
196124146.187532007Running
196232149.3712120066Running
196314149.800642000Running
196423156.406322000Running
19662613159.4681915740Handling |colspan=6|Totals |2160 |261 |
Starts15
Poles0
Front Row3
Wins2
Top 56
Top 107
Retired8
  • 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.

World Championship career summary

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.

Complete Formula One World Championship Results

()
Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1951L & B Bromme Bromme OffenhauserSUI
500
27
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
ESP
- 0
1952Federal Auto Associates Kurtis Kraft 4000 OffenhauserSUI
500
23
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
NED
ITA
- 0
1953M. A. Walker Kurtis Kraft OffenhauserARG
500
16
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
- 0
1954R. N. Sabourin Pawl OffenhauserARG
500
22
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
ESP
- 0
1955E. R. Casale Kuzma OffenhauserARG
MON
500
28
BEL
NED
GBR
ITA
- 0
1956Ed Walsh Kurtis Kraft 500C OffenhauserARG
MON
500
8
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
- 0
1957Roger Wolcott Lesovsky OffenhauserARG
MON
500
30
FRA
GBR
GER
PES
ITA
- 0
1958Roger Wolcott Lesovsky OffenhauserARG
MON
NED
500
20
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
POR
ITA
MOR
- 0
1959Leader Cards Inc. Watson OffenhauserMON
500
1
10th 8
Kurtis KraftNED
FRA
GBR
GER
POR
ITA
USA
Ret
1960Leader Cards Inc. Watson OffenhauserARG
MON
500
2
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
POR
ITA
USA
12th 6
1963Reg Parnell Racing Lotus 24 BRM V8MON
BEL
NED
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
USA
Ret
MEX
RSA
- 0

References



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
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Indianapolis 500

Venue Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Corporate sponsor none
First race 1911
First IRL race 1996
Distance 500 miles
Number of laps 200
Previous names International 500-Mile Sweepstakes (1911–1915)


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Beloit, Kansas

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Midget cars are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratios and typically using four-cylinder engines. Despite their name, they are fully capable of being driven by average-sized drivers.
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Offenhauser was a racing engines manufacturer that operated from 1933 to 1983.

The Offenhauser engine, familiarly known as the "Offy", was developed by Fred Offenhauser and his employer Harry Arminius Miller, after having spent some time maintaining and repairing a 1913
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O. Victor Edelbrock, Sr. (1913 - 1962) was an American automotive aftermarket performance parts engineer and racer. Victor, known as "Vic", established Edelbrock Corporation in Beverly Hills in 1938.
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Gilmore Stadium was a multi-use stadium in Los Angeles, California. It was opened in May 1934 and demolished in 1952, when the land was used to build CBS Television City. The stadium held 18,000. It was located next to Gilmore Field.
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Indianapolis 500

Venue Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Corporate sponsor none
First race 1911
First IRL race 1996
Distance 500 miles
Number of laps 200
Previous names International 500-Mile Sweepstakes (1911–1915)


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