Bill Puterbaugh, 81

INDIANAPOLIS – Bill Puterbaugh, the 1975 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, died Monday. He was 81 years old.

Puterbaugh first attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1968, but failed to qualify. He made five additional failed attempts from 1970 to 1974 before finally qualifying for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1975.

After starting 15th aboard his Eagle chassis, Puterbaugh drove to a seventh-place finish in his first Indianapolis 500, which earned him the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award.

Puterbaugh returned the next two seasons and again qualified for the Indianapolis 500, scoring finishes of 22nd in 1976 and 12th in 1977. He made his final Indianapolis 500 qualifying attempt in 1979, but failed to qualify.