Richard Lloyd Ruby[1] (January 12, 1928 – March 23, 2009)[2] was an American racecar driver who raced in the USAC Championship Car series for 20 years, achieving 7 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.

Lloyd Ruby
NationalityUnited States American
BornRichard Lloyd Ruby
(1928-01-12)January 12, 1928
Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 2009(2009-03-23) (aged 81)
Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
Championship titles
1965, 1966 24 Hours of Daytona Winner
1966 12 Hours of Sebring Winner
Awards
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (1991)
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2015)
Champ Car career
176 races run over 20 years
Years active1958–1977
Best finish3rd – 1964
First race1958 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix)
Last race1977 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win1961 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee)
Last win1970 Trenton 200 (Trenton)
Wins Podiums Poles
7 29 8
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19601961
TeamsWatson, Lotus
Entries2
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1960 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1961 United States Grand Prix

Racing career

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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.[3] 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

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The Mongoose-Offenhauser car Ruby drove in the 1970 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

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He died in 2009 at the age of 81 in his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas.[4]

Legacy and halls of fame

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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[5]

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

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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 PHX
13
- 0
1959 DAY TRE INDY
MIL LAN SPR
DNQ
MIL
DNQ
DUQ
13
SYR
14
ISF
13
TRE
SAC
18
PHX
DNQ
- 0
1960 TRE
INDY
7
MIL
6
LAN
11
SPR
4
MIL
17
DUQ
6
SYR
7
ISF
DNQ
TRE
8
SAC
DNQ
PHX
13
9th 710
1961 TRE
INDY
8
MIL
21
LAN
MIL
1
SPR
16
DUQ
16
SYR
11
ISF
DNQ
TRE
18
SAC
DNQ
PHX
11th 670
1962 TRE
INDY
8
MIL
19
LAN
TRE
SPR
6
MIL
22
LAN
SYR
11
ISF
13
TRE
6
SAC
8
PHX
3
11th 700
1963 TRE
19
INDY
19
MIL
12
LAN TRE
24
SPR
9
MIL
26
DUQ
17
ISF
8
TRE
8
SAC
4
PHX
16
16th 320
1964 PHX
9
TRE
5
INDY
3
MIL
18
LAN
8
TRE
2
SPR
12
MIL
10
DUQ
17
ISF
9
TRE
26
SAC
5
PHX
1
3rd 1,752
1965 PHX
5
TRE
DNQ
INDY
11
MIL
19
LAN
3
PPR
TRE
18
IRP
7
ATL
23
LAN
MIL
9
ISF
MIL
3
DSF
INF
10
TRE
26
SAC
PHX
DNQ
13th 850
1966 PHX
12
TRE
21
INDY
11
MIL
DNP
LAN
ATL
PIP IRP
16
LAN
24
SPR
MIL
9
DUQ
ISF
TRE
22
SAC
PHX
6
20th 355
1967 PHX
1
TRE
21
INDY
33
MIL
2
LAN
1
PIP MOS
4
MOS
4
IRP
16
LAN
DNQ
MTR
4
MTR
3
SPR
MIL
13
DUQ
ISF
DNQ
TRE
26
SAC
HAN
3
PHX
5
RIV
4
6th 2.090
1968 HAN
3
LVG
4
PHX
2
TRE
12
INDY
5
MIL
1
MOS
15
MOS
12
LAN
21
PIP CDR
2
NAZ
17
IRP
23
IRP
15
LAN
10
LAN
6
MTR
19
MTR
14
SPR
DNQ
MIL
1
DUQ
DNQ
ISF
DNQ
TRE
16
SAC
MCH
15
HAN
18
PHX
2
RIV
3
4th 2,799
1969 PHX
3
HAN
2
INDY
20
MIL
13
LAN
21
PIP CDR
NAZ TRE
15
IRP
7
IRP
15
MIL
3
SPR
DOV
DNQ
DUQ
ISF
BRN
BRN
TRE
SAC
KEN KEN PHX
2
RIV
DNP
10th 1,190
1970 PHX
3
SON
TRE
1
INDY
27
MIL
4
LAN
DNP
CDR
17
MCH
IRP
SPR
MIL
20
ONT
23
DUQ
ISF
SED
TRE
22
SAC
PHX
16
14th 790
1971 RAF
2
RAF
2
PHX
5
TRE
13
INDY
11
MIL
7
POC
8
MCH
21
MIL
6
ONT
4
TRE
23
PHX
24
5th 1,830
1972 PHX
21
TRE
INDY
6
MIL
22
MCH
POC
26
MIL
DNQ
ONT
17
TRE
18
PHX
7
18th 490
1973 TWS
DNQ
TRE
TRE
INDY
27
MIL
21
POC
3
MCH
4
MIL
DNQ
ONT ONT
8
ONT
28
MCH
6
MCH
4
TRE
8
TWS
4
PHX
11
9th 1,610
1974 ONT
3
ONT ONT
5
PHX
9
TRE
8
INDY
9
MIL
9
POC
6
MCH
DNQ
MIL
7
MCH
21
TRE
DNQ
TRE
PHX
7th 1,580
1975 ONT
ONT ONT
PHX
TRE
INDY
32
MIL
POC
MCH
MIL
MCH
TRE
PHX
10
33rd 45
1976 PHX
TRE
INDY
11
MIL
POC
MCH
TWS
TRE
MIL ONT
MCH
TWS
13
PHX
22
31st 100
1977 ONT
17
PHX
TWS
TRE
INDY
27
MIL
POC
MOS
MCH
TWS
MIL
ONT
DNP
MCH
PHX
- 0

Indianapolis 500 results

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

World Championship career summary

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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

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(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
7
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
Ret
NC 0
Source:[6]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
pos.
1967   Ford Motor Company
  Holman & Moody
  Denny Hulme Ford GT40 Mk.IV P +5.0 86 DNF DNF

References

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  1. ^ "Lloyd Ruby". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  2. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (March 25, 2009). "Lloyd Ruby, Star-Crossed Indy 500 Racer, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  3. ^ Baime, A, J. (2009). Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari and their battle for speed and glory at Le Mans. London: Bantam Books. p. 309. ISBN 978-0553818390.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Wichita Falls". Wichita Falls. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  5. ^ Lloyd Ruby at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  6. ^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 329. ISBN 0851127029.