Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Back
  • Biography
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Biography

Rodger Ward

Overview

  • Born
    January 10, 1921 · Beloit, Kansas, USA
  • Died
    July 5, 2004 · Anaheim, California, USA
  • Birth name
    Rodger Morris Ward

Mini bio

  • Rodger Ward was a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living winner of the Indy 500, having won in 1959 and 1962. Ward moved with his family to Los Angeles as a child. When he was 14, he built a Ford hot rod with parts from his father's junkyard business and began drag racing. A fighter and bomber pilot in World War II, Ward returned to Southern California after the war and began racing midgets. He passed his rookie test at Indianapolis in 1951. He considered quitting racing four years later, however, when his front axle snapped, triggering a crash that killed his close friend and two-time Indy 500 champion Bill Vukovich. But Vukovich's family convinced Ward to continue racing. During his career, Ward won 26 champ-car races and two U.S. Auto Club titles. His final victory was April 24, 1966, in Trenton, New Jersey.
    - IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

Family

  • Spouse
      Sherrie Ward(? - July 5, 2004) (his death)

Trivia

  • Was a P-38 pilot instructor during World War II.
  • 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500 winner.

Quotes

  • Indy makes the race driver. You become famous when you come here. I don't care where else you race in the world.

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More from this person

  • View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro

More to explore

Recently viewed

You have no recently viewed pages
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.