Lloyd Ruby

Richard Lloyd Ruby (January 12, 1928 – March 23, 2009) was an American racecar driver who raced in the USAC Championship Car series for 20 years, achieving seven victories and 88 top-ten finishes. He also had success in endurance racing, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1966 World Sportscar Championship.

Racing career Ruby raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1958–1977 seasons, with 177 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 from 1960 to 1977. He achieved 88 top-ten finishes, and seven victories. His best finish at Indy was third, in 1964. In 1966, he led the Indy 500 for 68 laps.

Ruby also had two endurance racing victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona (1965–1966), both times partnering with Ken Miles. Ruby and Miles teamed up to win the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1966 World Sportscar Championship. Ruby was scheduled to drive in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, however he was forced to withdraw due to spinal injuries suffered in a plane crash. A year later, he teamed with Denny Hulme in a Ford GT 40 Mk IV for the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ruby played a key role in Ford Motor Company's GT40 program in the mid-1960s. He also raced in the 1961 United States Grand Prix.

Indianapolis 500

Despite a Championship Car career replete with success, Ruby is probably best remembered for his many misfortunes at the Indianapolis 500. His biography, written by Ted Buss in 2000, was titled, Lloyd Ruby: The Greatest Driver Never to Win the Indy 500. Ruby led the race in five different years, for a total of 126 laps, however, his best finish at Indianapolis was third, in 1964. His only other top-five finish at Indy came in 1968. In 1991, he was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Perhaps Ruby's most notorious hard-luck bout at Indy came in 1969. With race leader Mario Andretti experiencing overheating problems, Ruby was in a strong position to score a victory. During a pit stop around the halfway point, a crew member motioned Ruby to pull away too soon. The refueling nozzle was still engaged in the car's left saddle tank, and as Ruby dropped the clutch, the car lurched forward. The nozzle ruptured a hole in the gas tank, ending Ruby's day.

Death Ruby died in 2009 at the age of 81 in his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Legacy and halls of fame Ruby's racing career was honored with the Bruton Smith Legends Award at the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame in Fort Worth in 2005. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. Ruby was also named co-recipient of the Louis Meyer Award along with Hélio Castroneves at the induction ceremony and special recognition dinner in Indianapolis. In 2015, he was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson joined racing greats Johnny Rutherford, Parnelli Jones and Al and Bobby Unser in Wichita Falls when the Lloyd Ruby Overpass was named in honor of their racing friend.

Complete USAC Championship Car results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points 1958 TRE INDY MIL LAN ATL SPR MIL DUQ SYR ISF TRE SAC PHX13-0 1959 DAY TRE INDY MIL LAN SPRDNQ MILDNQ DUQ13 SYR14 ISF13 TRE SAC18 PHXDNQ-0 1960 TRE INDY7 MIL6 LAN11 SPR4 MIL17 DUQ6 SYR7 ISFDNQ TRE8 SACDNQ PHX13 9th 710 1961 TRE INDY8 MIL21 LAN MIL1 SPR16 DUQ16 SYR11 ISFDNQ TRE18 SACDNQ PHX 11th 670 1962 TRE INDY8 MIL19 LAN TRE SPR6 MIL22 LAN SYR11 ISF13 TRE6 SAC8 PHX3 11th 700 1963 TRE INDY19 MIL12 LAN TRE SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX 16th 320 1964 PHX9 TRE5 INDY3 MIL18 LAN TRE2 SPR12 MIL10 DUQ17 ISF9 TRE26 SAC5 PHX1 3rd 1,752 1965 PHX TRE INDY11 MIL LAN PPR TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL ISF MIL DSF INF TRE SAC PHX 13th 850 1966 PHX TRE21 INDY11 MILDNP LAN ATL PIP IRP16 LAN24 SPR MIL9 DUQ ISF TRE22 SAC PHX6 20th 355 1967 PHX1 TRE21 INDY33 MIL2 LAN1 PIP MOS4 MOS4 IRP16 LANDNQ MTR4 MTR3 SPR MIL13 DUQ ISFDNQ TRE26 SAC HAN3 PHX5 RIV4 6th 2.090 1968 HAN3 LVG4 PHX2 TRE12 INDY5 MIL1 MOS15 MOS12 LAN21 PIP CDR2 NAZ17 IRP23 IRP15 LAN10 LAN6 MTR19 MTR14 SPRDNQ MIL1 DUQDNQ ISFDNQ TRE16 SAC MCH15 HAN18 PHX2 RIV3 4th 2,799 1969 PHX3 HAN2 INDY20 MIL13 LAN21 PIP CDR NAZ TRE15 IRP7 IRP15 MIL3 SPR DOVDNQ DUQ ISF BRN BRN TRE SAC KEN KEN PHX2 RIVDNP 10th 1,190 1970 PHX SON TRE INDY27 MIL4 LAN CDR MCH IRP SPR MIL ONT23 DUQ ISF SED TRE SAC PHX 14th 790 1971 RAF2 RAF2 PHX5 TRE13 INDY11 MIL7 POC8 MCH21 MIL6 ONT4 TRE23 PHX24 5th 1,830 1972 PHX21 TRE INDY6 MIL22 MCH POC26 MILDNQ ONT17 TRE18 PHX7 18th 490 1973 TWSDNQ TRE TRE INDY27 MIL21 POC3 MCH4 MILDNQ ONT ONT8 ONT28 MCH6 MCH4 TRE8 TWS4 PHX11 9th 1,610 1974 ONT3 ONT ONT5 PHX9 TRE8 INDY9 MIL9 POC6 MCHDNQ MIL7 MCH21 TREDNQ TRE PHX 7th 1,580 1975 ONT ONT ONT PHX TRE INDY32 MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE PHX10 33rd 45 1976 PHX TRE INDY11 MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT MCH TWS13 PHX22 31st 100 1977 ONT17 PHX TWS TRE INDY27 MILPOC MOS MCH TWS MIL ONTDNP MCH PHX-0

Indianapolis 500 results

Ruby owns three of the top-ten 5-race finishing streaks in the 1960s

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. Ruby participated in two World Championship races: the 1960 Indianapolis 500 and the 1961 United States Grand Prix. He scored no championship points.

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points 1960 J C Agajanian Watson Offenhauser straight-4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0 1961 J Frank Harrison Lotus 18 Climax straight-4 MON NED BEL FRA GBR GER ITA USA NC 0

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 1967 Ford Motor Company Holman & Moody Denny Hulme Ford GT40 Mk.IV P +5.0 86 DNF DNF