OBITUARIES / PASSINGS / Lloyd Ruby

Lloyd Ruby, 81, who raced in the Indianapolis 500 for 18 straight years and won the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race in 1966, died Monday in his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas, according to Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home. The cause of death wasn’t given.

In 18 consecutive starts at the Indy 500 from 1960 to 1977, Ruby finished in the top 10 seven times. His best finish was third, in 1964. He led the race at various points in five of those years but fell short every time because of mechanical or other failures. Only once did a crash put him out of the race. He was inducted into the Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame in 1991.

Ruby teamed with Englishman Ken Miles for victories at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1966 and the World Sportscar Championship in 1966 and 1968. He was a seven-time winner in the USAC Championship Car Series.

In 2005, Ruby received the Bruton Smith Legends Award at the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.