The 1959 Hoosier Hundred was held on September 5, 1959, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Mile in Indianapolis as a points-paying event on the USAC National Championship schedule. The race was contested over 100 laps on the one-mile dirt oval, covering a total of 100 miles. The drivers completed the event in 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 54 seconds, averaging 91.032 mph over the challenging dirt surface. The total purse for the race was $36,535, with the winner earning $11,675.
Rodger Ward dominated the race from start to finish, leading all 100 laps to take the victory in his championship car. He was followed across the line by Eddie Sachs in second, A.J. Foyt in third, Jim McWithey in fourth, and Len Sutton in fifth. The race was a true test of skill, as drivers had to contend with the rough, changing dirt surface, heavy traffic, and mechanical strain typical of Hoosier Hundred races of the era.
Ward’s performance at the Hoosier Hundred was a key highlight of the 1959 USAC National Championship season, demonstrating both his mastery of dirt-track racing and his championship-level consistency. The event exemplified the blend of endurance, strategy, and driver skill that made the Hoosier Hundred one of the most prestigious and challenging races in mid-century American open-wheel racing.
