Rodger Ward
Rodger Ward Morris ( born January 10, 1921 in Beloit, Kansas; † 5 July 2004 in Anaheim, California ) was an American race car driver.
Ward was in the 1950s and 1960s, one of the most successful drivers in the U.S. Monopostoszene. Between 1950 and 1964 he celebrated in 150 starts 26 wins in the AAA National Series and the USAC series. 1959 and 1962 won the championship in a Watson- Offenhauser. 1960, 1962 and 1963, he came second in the championship.
Indianapolis
Ward started 1951-1966 15 times in the 500 miles of Indianapolis. By 1958, his success has been mixed. In 1955, he sparked by a broken axle from the serious accident, as a result, Bill Vukovich was killed. Then he thought about resigning after .. However, between 1959 and 1964, he finished no worse than Indy 500 at number 4, 1959 and 1962, he won. In 1960 he delivered himself with Jim Rathmann a duel for the victory, which he lost by only 12 seconds. Rathmann took over the lead on lap 183 in the Ward. As a result, the two overtook several times and the lead changed constantly. In the 197th round Rathmann went back over to Ward and drove to the narrow victory. In 1964, he was also second; 1961 Third and Fourth in 1963.
Formula 1
In addition to the race in Indianapolis, numbering between 1950 and 1960 with the Trial World Championship, Ward also took part in two "real" formula 1 race. In 1959, he drove at the U.S. Grand Prix at Sebring one of the most idiosyncratic Grand Prix cars that have ever been used in a World Cup race of the Formula 1. It was a converted Kurtis Kraft Midget - with a Offenhauser engine, which proved to be much too heavy and too bulky. Ward, who had recently been in training, retired from the race after a clutch failure. In 1963 he drove a Lotus 24 of Reg Parnell Racing at Watkins Glen, but dropped out after a transmission failure from.