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Troy Ruttman

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Troy Ruttman
Born(1930-03-11)March 11, 1930
Mooreland, Oklahoma
DiedMay 19, 1997(1997-05-19) (aged 67)
Cause of deathLung cancer
Awardsinducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (1993)

inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2005)
inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2003)
inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2002)

won the 1952 Indianapolis 500
NASCAR Cup Series career
7 races run over 3 years
Best finish49th - 1962 (Grand National)
First race1962 Atlanta 500 (Atlanta)
Last race1964 Motor Trend 500 (Riverside)
Wins Top tens Poles
5
Statistics current as of December 29, 2006.
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited States American
Active years19501952, 1954, 19561958, 1960
TeamsKurtis Kraft, Watson, Lesovsky, Kuzma, Maserati
Entries11 (8 starts)
Championships0
Wins1
Podiums1
Career points9.5
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
First win1952 Indianapolis 500
Last win1952 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1960 Indianapolis 500

Troy Ruttman (born March 11, 1930 in Mooreland, Oklahoma – May 19, 1997) was an American race car driver. He was the older brother of NASCAR driver Joe Ruttman.

Ruttman won the Indianapolis 500 in 1952, at the age of 22 years and 80 days. As of 2014, he is the youngest winner of the race.

From 1950–1960, the Indianapolis 500 also counted toward the World Drivers' Championship (now synonymous with Formula One), although most of the racers did not compete in the other races in the Championship. Ruttman was the first Indianapolis 500 winner to participate in a Formula One event beyond Indy[1] and his 1952 Indy 500 win earned him the distinction of being the youngest driver to win a round of the World Championship, an honor he held until Fernando Alonso won the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Racing career

Ruttman entered his family car in a roadster race at San Bernardino, California in 1945 at age 15, and won the race.[2] We won 19 of the 21 events staged there that season.[2] By 1947 he was the California Roadster Association (CRA) roadster champion.[2] He also won his first five midget car races that season. In 1948 he repeated as the CRA roadster champion, United Racing Association Blue Circuit (Offy) championship, and 23 midget car events.[2]

Sprint car career

In May 1949 Troy left California for the AAA Sprint and Championship car circuits of the Midwest. We won three AAA Sprint Car championships over the next three and a half seasons.[2] He competed in 51 midget races, winning 16 and placing in the top three 28 times.[2]

He was injured from a sprint car crash in August 1952, which sidelined Ruttman for one and a half seasons.[2] Ruttman returned in 1954 on a greatly reduced schedule.

Championship car career

He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1949-1952, 1954, 1956–1957 and 1960-1964 seasons with 58 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1949-1952, 1954, 1956–1957, and 1960-1964. He finished in the top ten 26 times, with 5 victories and finished runner-up to Chuck Stevenson for the 1952 National Championship.

Stock car career

Ruttman won the 1956 USAC Short Track Stock Car division title. Ruttman also competed in 7 races in the NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) series from 1962–1964, finishing in the top ten 5 times. His best finish was third at the 1963 race at Riverside International Raceway behind Dan Gurney and A. J. Foyt.[3]

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960, and drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Troy Ruttman participated in nine World Championship races, seven times at Indy plus the 1958 French and German Grands Prix. His 1952 Indianapolis 500 win was his only win and his only podium finish. He accumulated a total of 9½ championship points.

Career awards

Death

Ruttman died of lung cancer May 19, 1997 at Lake Havasu City, Arizona just a month before the long planned "Troy Ruttman Day" in his hometown of Mooreland, Oklahoma.[2] Troy Ruttman is survived by his son Jim Ruttman, Dee-El Dawe, his son Troy Ruttman Jr preceded him in death, due to a race car accident, Jennifer Lynn & Mary Joyce. He has 3 grandchildren.[5][6]

Indy 500 results

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1950 Bowes Racing Inc. Lesovsky Offenhauser Straight-4 GBR
MON
500
15
SUI
BEL
FRA
ITA
NC 0
1951 Christopher J.C. Agajanian Kurtis Kraft 2000 Offenhauser Straight-4 SUI
500
Ret
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
ESP
NC 0
1952 Christopher J.C. Agajanian Kuzma Offenhauser Straight-4 SUI
500
1
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
NED
ITA
7th 8
1954 Eugene A Casaroll Kurtis Kraft 500A Offenhauser Straight-4 ARG
500
4
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
SUI
ITA
ESP
23rd= 1.5
1956 John Zink Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser Straight-4 ARG
MON
500
Ret
BEL
FRA
GBR
GER
ITA
NC 0
1957 John Zink Watson Offenhauser Straight-4 ARG
MON
500
Ret
FRA
GBR
GER
PES
ITA
NC 0
1958 Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F Maserati Straight-6 ARG
MON
NED
500
BEL
FRA
10
GBR
GER
DNS
POR
ITA
MOR
NC 0
1960 John Zink Watson Offenhauser Straight-4 ARG
MON
500
Ret
NED
BEL
FRA
GBR
POR
ITA
USA
NC 0
  • † = Shared drive

References

Awards
Preceded by Indianapolis 500 Winner
1952
Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by Youngest Driver to start
a Formula One race

20 years, 80 days
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Youngest Grand Prix Race
Winner

22 years, 80 days
(1952 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Youngest Driver to score a
Podium Position in Formula One

22 years, 80 days
(1952 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by
Bruce McLaren
21 years, 322 days
(1959 British GP)
Preceded by Youngest Driver to score
Points in Formula One

22 years, 80 days
(1952 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by
Bruce McLaren
21 years, 253 days
(1959 Monaco GP)