Indy 500 veteran Rocky Moran dies at 74

INDIANAPOLIS — Rocky Moran, a three-time Indianapolis 500 competitor, died last weekend from cancer at the age of 74, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said on Wednesday.

According to IMS, Moran’s best finish was 14th in 1989. There, he drove the No. 33 Skoal Classic March/Cosworth, which was owned by four-time Indy 500 racer A.J. Foyt.

This followed Moran’s Indy 500 debut the year before, in which he placed 16th and became the second-highest placing rookie in the field. Moran’s final race was in 1990, where he was credited with 25th place. His car’s engine expired after 88 laps and marked his final INDYCAR SERIES start, IMS said.

Moran’s amateur racing career began in the early 1970s, where he worked on the West Coast in both open-wheel and sports cars, prior to transitioning to multiple national sports car series.

IMS stated that the height of Moran’s career occurred in 1993, in his partnership with PJ Jones and Mark Dismore. This resulted in them winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona — a clear step up from when they placed fourth in 1992. This victory was also the first Rolex 24 win for AAR and Toyota, IMS wrote.

Moran is survived by a wife named Kayla; his daughter, Kelly; two sons named Rocky Jr. and Cody; and seven grandchildren, per IMS.

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