© DR
Believe it or not this little piece of machinery actually competed in the US Grand Prix at Sebring in 1959. And it was driven by a man born on this day in 1921, a true superstar of American racing's golden age: Rodger Ward. Often labeled as the greatest oval racer of all time, a two-time winner of the Indy 500, Ward decided to measure himself against the cream of the crop of Grand Prix racing. In Florida he qualified his nimble but under-powered Kurtis Kraft sprint car last. On race day, the great driver's efforts were fruitless but spectacular as he drifted his way around the airfield's bumpy turns. A clutch failure eventually forced him out. Although a tactical misjudgment, his attempt to challenge F1's front-runners was certainly a testimony to his boldness and determination.
