| Lloyd Ruby | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality |  American | ||||||
| Born | Richard Lloyd Ruby (1928-01-12)January 12, 1928 Wichita Falls,Texas,U.S. | ||||||
| Died | March 23, 2009(2009-03-23) (aged 81) Wichita Falls,Texas,U.S. | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| 1965, 196624 Hours of Daytona Winner 196612 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 active | 1958–1977 | ||||||
| Best finish | 3rd –1964 | ||||||
| First race | 1958Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix) | ||||||
| Last race | 1977Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| First win | 1961Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last win | 1970Trenton 200 (Trenton) | ||||||
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| Formula One World Championship career | |||||||
| Active years | 1960–1961 | ||||||
| Teams | Watson,Lotus | ||||||
| Entries | 2 | ||||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||||
| Career points | 0 | ||||||
| Pole positions | 0 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||
| First entry | 1960 Indianapolis 500 | ||||||
| Last entry | 1961 United States Grand Prix | ||||||
Richard Lloyd Ruby[1] (January 12, 1928 – March 23, 2009)[2] was an American racecar driver who raced in theUSAC Championship Car series for 20 years, achieving 7 victories and 88 top-ten finishes. He also had success in endurance racing, winning the24 Hours of Daytona twice, the1966 12 Hours of Sebring and the1966 World Sportscar Championship.
Ruby raced in theUSACChampionship Car series in the 1958–1977 seasons, with 177 career starts, including theIndianapolis 500 from 1960 to 1977. He achieved 88 top-ten finishes, and seven victories. His best finish at Indy was third, in1964. In1966, he led the Indy 500 for 68 laps.
Ruby also had two endurance racing victories in the24 Hours of Daytona (1965–1966), both times partnering withKen Miles. Ruby and Miles teamed up to win the1966 12 Hours of Sebring and the1966 World Sportscar Championship. Ruby was scheduled to drive in the1966 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 withDenny Hulme in aFord GT 40 Mk IV for the1967 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 the1961 United States Grand Prix.
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Despite a Championship Car career replete with success, Ruby is probably best remembered for his many misfortunes at theIndianapolis 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 theAuto Racing Hall of Fame.
Perhaps Ruby's most notorious hard-luck bout at Indy came in1969. With race leaderMario 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.
He died in 2009 at the age of 81 in his hometown ofWichita Falls, Texas.[4]
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 theNational Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. Ruby was also named co-recipient of the Louis Meyer Award along withHélio Castroneves at the induction ceremony and special recognition dinner in Indianapolis. In 2015, he was inducted in theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America[5]
Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson joined racing greatsJohnny Rutherford,Parnelli Jones andAl andBobby Unser in Wichita Falls when the Lloyd Ruby Overpass was named in honor of their racing friend.
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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: the1960 Indianapolis 500 and the1961 United States Grand Prix. He scored no championship points.
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | J C Agajanian | Watson | Offenhauserstraight-4 | ARG | MON | 500 7 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | POR | ITA | USA | NC | 0 |
| 1961 | J Frank Harrison | Lotus18 | Climaxstraight-4 | MON | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | USA Ret | NC | 0 | ||
Source:[6] | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Ford Motor CompanyHolman & Moody |  Denny Hulme | Ford GT40 Mk.IV | P +5.0 | 86 | DNF | DNF |
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