Rutherford Earns Award With Bad Luck

Johnny Rutherford, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner who missed qualifying for his 25th 500 when the engine blew on his car during last Sunday’s final qualifying run, received the Jigger Award for the person having the worst luck leading to today’s race.

The Jigger Award, named for former driver Jigger Sirois, was presented to Rutherford by Dusty Brandel, president of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Assn.

Galen Fox, chief mechanic for the Gohr Racing Team, whose driver is Tero Palmroth of Finland, was named winner of the Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award. Fox received $5,000.