1962 INDIANAPOLIS 500® WINNER 
Driver: #3 Rodger Ward 
Sponsor: Leader Card "500" Roadster

Rodger Ward made his first start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway® in 1951, and in his first eight starts his best result was an 8th place finish in 1956. For the 1959 season, Ward teamed up with car owner Bob Wilke and chief mechanic A.J. Watson. Driving the "Leader Card 500 Roadster" built by A.J. Watson, Ward won the 1959 Indianapolis 500^®.

The team remained together to finish a close second at Indy in 1960 and third in 1961. At the 1962 Indy 500®, Ward qualified his new Watson Roadster second fastest to pole sitter Parnelli Jones. When the race started, Jones led the field at a record pace, with A.J. Foyt, Ward, and Ward's teammate Len Sutton in pursuit. By Lap 90, Ward was in second place, only 12 seconds behind Jones. Jones was still leading when he made his second pit stop on Lap 124, but he had lost his brakes. After leading most of the first 300 miles, Jones struggled to finish seventh. When Jones slowed, Ward took command of the race, leading 66 of the last 75 laps. Sutton took over first place while Ward made his last pit stop, but when Sutton pitted, Ward re-assumed the lead. Ward led Sutton to the checkered flag by eleven and a half seconds, with third-place Eddie Sachs and fourth-place Don Davis on the lead lap. Ward's winning speed in the 1962 Indianapolis 500® was 140.293 mph, a new record.