James Trueman, Winning Indy Car Owner Dies at 51

James Trueman, the owner of the car Bobby Rahal drove to victory in the Indianapolis 500 on May 31, died Wednesday night at his home in central Ohio. He was 51.

Trueman, who built the Red Roof Inns Inc. motel chain and gained equal fame as a race car owner and driver, had been suffering from cancer for about two years.

“This one was for Jim Trueman,” Rahal said immediately after this year’s 500. “This is the one I can give him. I think everybody knows I love him. I felt a great sense of well-being and a particular satisfaction for all the things Jim has done for me over the years. If anything can repay him, maybe this can.”

Funeral arrangements were indefinite.