So I knew when I decided to write a post each week about the Indianapolis 500 winners on my timeline that it would take a bit of dedication on my part to get a post out each week. Long time readers know I can be a bit of a procrastinator. What I didn’t expect was that one of the things that would cause me to fall behind on my posts would be my sweet pup, Bandit. We adopted Bandit when he was 2 years old, at 16 1/2 his arthritis became unbearable. We tried several ways to ease his pain but they weren’t helping. The morning he bit me hard enough to draw blood when I tried to help him on the couch I knew he had had enough. We made the hard decision no one ever wants to make. So my heart just wasn’t up for blogging about the drivers. It’s been empty at the house without my little shadow following me around but I’m grateful he is no longer suffering.
Being in Indianapolis has been good for me and now I want to catch up on my posts. Let’s learn more about Troy Ruttman. He was the youngest winner of the 500 but there is more to his story.
Ruttman was born on March 11, 1930 in Moreland, Oklahoma. When Ruttman was 15, he entered his family’s car in a race and won. In 1947, Ruttman became the California Roadster Association (CRA) roadster champion, a feat he repeated in 1948. Ruttman also raced in several midget car events. In 1949, he joined the AAA Sprint car circuits and won the championship three times. In 1949, his rookie year at the Indy 500, Ruttman started 18th and finished 12th. He had a 15th and 23rd finish the following two years.
In 1952, Ruttman had his highest start to date, beginning in the 7th position alongside Bill Vukovich in 8th. Vukovich would lead 150 laps but with 9 laps remaining a steering piece broke and he stopped along the outside wall, no other cars were involved in the incident. Ruttman passed him and won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 becoming the youngest driver to every win at age 22 years, 80 days. He was also the last driver to win in a dirt track car.
Other notes from the 1952 race.
-it was the first year no reliefs drivers were used.
– Fred Agabashian was the first entry powered by a turbocharged engine
– Ruttman receives his celebratory kiss from actress Arlene Dahl.
– Ruttman finished 4 minutes, 2 seconds before runner up, Jim Rathman.
In August, 1952, Ruttman was injured during a sprint car crash. He would not race again for a year and a half. Rather than focus on his recovery, he indulged in rich food and drinks. He gained weight and never attained the same level of success he had before the accident. He retired from racing at age 34. After operating a motorcycle and snowmobile dealership in Michigan for several years, he died in 1997 from lung cancer.