Later acted as pace car driver for the Indy 500. Real name Willard, Rader was also a test driver and then later engineer for Cadillac. Rader drove the first ever General Motors Indianapolis 500 pace car; it was their brand new La Salle car. Rader was chosen partly due to his previous links, but also because he had been a test driver for General Motors for over ten years by 1927. Rader kept special links to that car as he was still assisting GM in 1940. For his two relief drives, he relieved Howdy Wilcox and then Earl Cooper respectively.

Biography last updated 20 Jan 2019