Image Credit: Richard Cleaver. Used with Permission.

I know that we always focus on NASCAR and don’t report any news on Indy, but we felt that it was appropriate to pay tribute to the “Best Driver to Never Win the Indy 500″, Lloyd Ruby. 

Ruby died March 23, 2009 at the age of 81 in Wichita Falls, Texas. Most famous for having driven in 18 consecutive Indy 500s from 1960 until 1977, Ruby was also instrumental in Ford Motor Company’s GT40 program in the mid-60′s. Endurance Racing at the 24 Hours of Daytona and winning the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring celebrated his spectacular racing career outside of the Indy Car Series.

Cameron Watson from Fluid Media, and panelist on our “Over the Wall” podcast, informed me that his brother Chris worked on Ruby’s Indy team in the 70′s.

In 2005, Ruby was honored with the Bruton Smith Legends Award at the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame as well as being inducted into the Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Indianapolis.

It seems only fitting that April 5th is the NASCAR race at Bruton Smith’s Texas Motor Speedway.

Ruby is survived by his wife, Peggy and two children, John and  Mary Ann. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ruby family.