Lloyd Ruby, 81, who died Monday night in his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas, came from a different generation of Indy-car drivers, but his legacy among those who competed in the Indianapolis 500 is secure.
“Nothing against Michael Andretti, but Ruby was the greatest driver who never won the 500,” said Al Unser, who won the event a record-tying four times.
Ruby competed in 18 consecutive 500s between 1960 and 1977, leading five out of six starts during one stretch only to be dealt a dose of bad racing luck each time.
Ruby finished third in 1964 and qualified in the first three rows seven times. He led 126 laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during his career.
Bobby Unser called him “a straight arrow — the type of person who makes people like you.”
To Al Unser, he was “my hero.”
Rutherford, a fellow Texan and also a three-time Indy 500 winner, called Ruby “one of the finest men I have ever known.”
“He said it like it was. He was an excellent race-car driver. The title of his book sums it up (“Lloyd Ruby: The Greatest Driver Never to Win the Indy 500”). He could have been a three- or four-time winner.
“I have known Lloyd since I was a 9-year-old. My dad took me to a midget track in Tulsa and I watched him race many years. To get to compete with him when I came to Indy in 1962 was a great thrill. I hunted with him on many occasions and it was a great time. I will miss Lloyd a lot.”
Jim Hunter, the vice president, corporate communications for NASCAR, said “Rube was a racer’s racer. He will be missed by everyone in the motorsports community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
“Rube was a great friend in good times and in bad times. I always looked to Lloyd for advice and insight. Although soft-spoken and easy going, Rube had a great sense of humor and was one of the most popular drivers in the history of Indianapolis racing. He might not have won the Indianapolis 500, but he captured the hearts and minds of millions of fans with his hard-charging style and effort. He also had the respect of his peers.”
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