Troy Ruttman

Troy Ruttman (11 March 1930 - 19 May 1997) was an American racing driver who won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 at age 22, becoming and remaining the youngest ever winner of the race, a record that has stood for over 70 years. Born in Mooreland, Oklahoma, Ruttman relocated to California where he would establish himself as one of American racing's precocious talents. Ruttman began competing at the remarkably young age of 15, demonstrating exceptional natural ability that quickly caught the attention of team owners and race promoters. His early success in regional racing earned him opportunities in AAA-sanctioned championships, and he won several regional and AAA-sanctioned titles before reaching his twentieth birthday, establishing himself as American racing's boy wonder.

At the 1952 Indianapolis 500, Ruttman drove to victory at just 22 years and 80 days old, shattering previous age records and setting a mark that has never been broken. His youth, combined with the race's prestige, made him an overnight sensation in American motorsport. Remarkably, the dirt track car he drove was the last such machine to win at Indianapolis, as the sport was transitioning to purpose-built paved track racers, giving Ruttman's victory additional historical significance. Ruttman's Indianapolis 500 victory earned him the distinction of being the youngest driver to win a round of the World Drivers' Championship, as the Indianapolis 500 counted toward the Formula One World Championship from 1950 to 1960.

This record stood until Fernando Alonso won the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix, more than 50 years later, highlighting how remarkable Ruttman's achievement was. Tragically, Ruttman suffered a serious injury during a sprint car crash in August 1952, just months after his Indianapolis 500 triumph. The accident sidelined him for one and a half racing seasons, significantly impacting his career trajectory at a crucial developmental period. The long layoff disrupted his momentum precisely when he should have been capitalizing on his Indianapolis victory and building toward more championship success.

Ruttman drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series across multiple seasons (1949-1952, 1954, 1956-1957, and 1960-1964) with 58 starts, including multiple Indianapolis 500 appearances. While he never won Indianapolis again, he remained competitive and continued racing into the early 1960s. Ruttman became the first Indianapolis 500 winner to participate in Formula One events beyond Indianapolis when he competed in the 1958 French and German Grands Prix, driving European-style Formula One cars. These appearances demonstrated his willingness to adapt to different racing styles, though the transition from American oval racing to European road racing proved challenging, and he did not achieve notable results in these Formula One races.

After concluding his racing career at age 34 in 1964, Ruttman relocated to Plymouth, Michigan, where he operated a motorcycle and snowmobile dealership, successfully transitioning to business life. He maintained connections to motorsport and occasionally attended Indianapolis 500 events, where he was celebrated as the race's youngest winner. Troy Ruttman died from lung cancer on 19 May 1997 at Lake Havasu City, Arizona, at age 67. He is remembered as one of American racing's most precocious talents, a driver whose 1952 Indianapolis 500 victory at age 22 established a record that may never be broken in modern motorsport, where drivers rarely reach top-level racing before their twenties and the Indianapolis 500 requires years of experience to master.