Lloyd Ruby

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American racing driver (1928–2009)

title: "Lloyd Ruby" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-formula-one-drivers", "1928-births", "indianapolis-500-drivers", "2009-deaths", "24-hours-of-le-mans-drivers", "24-hours-of-daytona-drivers", "sportspeople-from-wichita-falls,-texas", "racing-drivers-from-texas", "world-sportscar-championship-drivers", "12-hours-of-sebring-drivers"] description: "American racing driver (1928–2009)" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Ruby" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American racing driver (1928–2009) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox racing driver"]

FieldValue
nameLloyd Ruby
nationalityUSA American
birth_nameRichard Lloyd Ruby
birth_date
birth_placeWichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
death_date
death_placeWichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
titles1965, 1966 24 Hours of Daytona Winner
1966 12 Hours of Sebring Winner
awardsIndianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (1991)
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2015)
module1{{Infobox Champ Car driver
childyes
years1958–1977
Total_Champ_Races176
Years_In_Champ20
Best_Champ_Pos3rd – 1964
First_Champ_Race1958 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix)
Last_Champ_Race1977 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First_Champ_Win1961 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee)
Last_Champ_Win1970 Trenton 200 (Trenton)
Champ_Wins7
Champ_Podiums29
Champ_Poles8
module2{{Infobox F1 driver
embedyes
years–
teamsWatson, Lotus
races2
championships0
wins0
podiums0
points0
poles0
fastest_laps0
first_race1960 Indianapolis 500
last_race1961 United States Grand Prix
::

| name = Lloyd Ruby | image = | caption = | nationality = USA American | birth_name = Richard Lloyd Ruby | birth_date = | birth_place = Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S. | 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) | module1 = {{Infobox Champ Car driver | child = yes | years = 1958–1977 | Total_Champ_Races = 176 | Years_In_Champ = 20 | Champ_Car_Team = | Best_Champ_Pos = 3rd – 1964 | First_Champ_Race = 1958 Bobby Ball Memorial (Phoenix) | Last_Champ_Race = 1977 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | First_Champ_Win = 1961 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) | Last_Champ_Win = 1970 Trenton 200 (Trenton) | Champ_Wins = 7 | Champ_Podiums = 29 | Champ_Poles = 8 | module2 = {{Infobox F1 driver | embed = yes | years = – | teams = Watson, Lotus | races = 2 | championships = 0 | wins = 0 | podiums = 0 | points = 0 | poles = 0 | fastest_laps = 0 | first_race = 1960 Indianapolis 500 | first_win = | last_win = | last_race = 1961 United States Grand Prix

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 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.

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Lloyd_Ruby_(2534355548).jpg" caption="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

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

::data[format=table]

Year12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728PosPoints1958-01959-019609th710196111th670196211th700196316th32019643rd1,752196513th850196620th35519676th2.09019684th2,799196910th1,190197014th79019715th1,830197218th49019739th1,61019747th1,580197533rd45197631st1001977-0
TREINDYMILLANATLSPRMILDUQSYRISFTRESACPHX
13
DAYTREINDY
MILLANSPR
DNQMIL
DNQDUQ
13SYR
14ISF
13TRE
SAC
18PHX
DNQ
TRE
INDY
7MIL
6LAN
11SPR
4MIL
17DUQ
6SYR
7ISF
DNQTRE
8SAC
DNQPHX
13
TRE
INDY
8MIL
21LAN
MIL
1SPR
16DUQ
16SYR
11ISF
DNQTRE
18SAC
DNQPHX
TRE
INDY
8MIL
19LAN
TRE
SPR
6MIL
22LAN
SYR
11ISF
13TRE
6SAC
8PHX
3
TRE
19INDY
19MIL
12LANTRE
24SPR
9MIL
26DUQ
17ISF
8TRE
8SAC
4PHX
16
PHX
9TRE
5INDY
3MIL
18LAN
8TRE
2SPR
12MIL
10DUQ
17ISF
9TRE
26SAC
5PHX
1
PHX
5TRE
DNQINDY
11MIL
19LAN
3PPR
TRE
18IRP
7ATL
23LAN
MIL
9ISF
MIL
3DSF
INF
10TRE
26SAC
PHX
DNQ
PHX
12TRE
21INDY
11MIL
DNPLAN
ATL
PIPIRP
16LAN
24SPR
MIL
9DUQ
ISF
TRE
22SAC
PHX
6
PHX
1TRE
21INDY
33MIL
2LAN
1PIPMOS
4MOS
4IRP
16LAN
DNQMTR
4MTR
3SPR
MIL
13DUQ
ISF
DNQTRE
26SAC
HAN
3PHX
5RIV
4
HAN
3LVG
4PHX
2TRE
12INDY
5MIL
1MOS
15MOS
12LAN
21PIPCDR
2NAZ
17IRP
23IRP
15LAN
10LAN
6MTR
19MTR
14SPR
DNQMIL
1DUQ
DNQISF
DNQTRE
16SAC
MCH
15HAN
18PHX
2RIV
3
PHX
3HAN
2INDY
20MIL
13LAN
21PIPCDR
NAZTRE
15IRP
7IRP
15MIL
3SPR
DOV
DNQDUQ
ISF
BRN
BRN
TRE
SAC
KENKENPHX
2RIV
DNP
PHX
3SON
TRE
1INDY
27MIL
4LAN
DNPCDR
17MCH
IRP
SPR
MIL
20ONT
23DUQ
ISF
SED
TRE
22SAC
PHX
16
RAF
2RAF
2PHX
5TRE
13INDY
11MIL
7POC
8MCH
21MIL
6ONT
4TRE
23PHX
24
PHX
21TRE
INDY
6MIL
22MCH
POC
26MIL
DNQONT
17TRE
18PHX
7
TWS
DNQTRE
TRE
INDY
27MIL
21POC
3MCH
4MIL
DNQONTONT
8ONT
28MCH
6MCH
4TRE
8TWS
4PHX
11
ONT
3ONTONT
5PHX
9TRE
8INDY
9MIL
9POC
6MCH
DNQMIL
7MCH
21TRE
DNQTRE
PHX
ONT
ONTONT
PHX
TRE
INDY
32MIL
POC
MCH
MIL
MCH
TRE
PHX
10
PHX
TRE
INDY
11MIL
POC
MCH
TWS
TRE
MILONT
MCH
TWS
13PHX
22
ONT
17PHX
TWS
TRE
INDY
27MIL
POC
MOS
MCH
TWS
MIL
ONT
DNPMCH
PHX
::

Indianapolis 500 results

::data[format=table]

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977
9812144.2081572000Running
525146.909282000Running
1224146.5202482000Running
6519149.12315191260Crash T4
187153.932832000Running
79157.2469111840Blown engine
145162.43351116668Cam stud
257165.22983330Valves
255167.6135520042Running
420166.428202010511Fuel tank
2525168.895627542Drive gear
127173.8217111743Gears
511181.4152061960Flagged
1815191.6221827210Piston
918181.6992091870Out of fuel
76186.98473270Piston
5130186.4807111000Flagged
1019190.8401127340Crash T2
Totals2357126
::

::data[format=table]

StartsPolesFront rowsWinsTop-5sTop-10sRetired
18
0
0
0
2
7
10
::
  • 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) ::data[format=table]

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910WDCPointsJ C AgajanianWatsonOffenhauser straight-4NC0J Frank HarrisonLotus 18Climax straight-4NC0
1960ARG
MON
500
7NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
POR
ITA
USA
1961MON
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
USA
Ret
::

24 Hours of Le Mans results

::data[format=table] | Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class pos. | 1967 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | USA Ford Motor Company USA Holman & Moody | NZL Denny Hulme | Ford GT40 Mk.IV | P +5.0 | 86 | DNF | DNF | | | ::

References

References

  1. "Lloyd Ruby".
  2. Hevesi, Dennis. (March 25, 2009). "Lloyd Ruby, Star-Crossed Indy 500 Racer, Dies at 81". [[The New York Times]].
  3. Baime, A, J.. (2009). "Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari and their battle for speed and glory at Le Mans". Bantam Books.
  4. "Wichita Falls".
  5. [http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/lloyd-ruby.html Lloyd Ruby] at the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]]
  6. Small, Steve. (1994). "The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who". Guinness.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

american-formula-one-drivers1928-birthsindianapolis-500-drivers2009-deaths24-hours-of-le-mans-drivers24-hours-of-daytona-driverssportspeople-from-wichita-falls,-texasracing-drivers-from-texasworld-sportscar-championship-drivers12-hours-of-sebring-drivers