Chet Miller

Chet Miller

Born	July 19, 1902 Detroit, Michigan
Died	May 15, 1953 (aged 50) Indianapolis, Indiana
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1950–1953
Teams	Kurtis Kraft
Entries	4 (2 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1953 Indianapolis 500

Chester Miller (July 19, 1902 Detroit, Michigan – May 15, 1953 Indianapolis, Indiana) was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a crash in the south turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500.^[1] During his long Indy career, Miller earned the nickname "Dean of the Speedway."

He died at age 50 while driving a Novi-engined Special.^[1] He is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.^[2]

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1930 41 15 97.360 23 13 161 0 Flagged 1931 27 15 106.185 25 10 200 0 Running 1932 9 29 111.053 23 21 125 0 Engine 1933 28 32 112.025 23 20 163 0 Rod 1934 46 32 109.252 29 33 11 0 Crash T1 1935 34 17 113.552 24 10 200 0 Running 1936 18 3 117.675 3 5 200 0 Running 1937 7 13 119.213 13 30 36 0 Ignition 1938 3 5 121.898 9 3 200 0 Running 1939 3 5 126.318 8 21 109 0 Crash BS 1940 34 27 121.392 27 17 189 0 Flagged 1941 41 9 121.540 23 6 200 0 Running 1946 5 17 124.649 8 18 64 0 Oil line 1948 31 19 127.249 8 20 108 0 Oil trouble 1951 32 28 135.798 3 25 56 0 Ignition 1952 21 27 139.034 1 30 41 0 Supercharger Totals 2063 0

Starts 16 Poles 0 Front Row 1 Wins 0 Top 5 2 Top 10 5 Retired 9

• Although Miller posted the fastest qualifying time for the 1952 Indianapolis 500, he started on the outside of the ninth row. No other fastest qualifier has started this far back in the field.
• Miller drove over 5,000 miles (8,000 km) at Indianapolis without leading a lap, an all-time record.

World Championship career summary

Although run to a completely different set of rules, the Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA Formula One World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Chet Miller participated in 2 World Championship races - the 1951 and 1952 Indianapolis 500. He retired from both races, therefore scoring no championship points.

With his death during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500, Miller became the first driver to die as a result of a crash during a World Championship event, and the second driver to die either in a Formula One car or at a World Championship event, after Englishman Cameron Earl had died 11 months earlier while testing an ERA Formula One car at the MIRA proving ground in England.

References

1. Yates, Brock W. "The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway." Harper and Brothers: New York. 1956. Page 67.
2. "Indianapolis Auto greats" (PDF). Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery. Crown Hill Cemetery. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-10.