Chet Miller

Chet Miller
Chet Miller
	Miller in 1934
Born	Chester Joseph Miller; July 19, 1902; Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	May 15, 1953 (aged 50); Speedway, Indiana, U.S.
Champ Car career
	29 races run over 20 years
Best finish	3rd (1938)
First race	1930 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race	1952 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Formula One World Championship career
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
	Show more

Chester Joseph Miller (July 19, 1902 – May 15, 1953)^[1] was an American racing driver. He was killed in a crash in the south turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500.^[2]^[3] During his long Indianapolis racing career, Miller earned the nickname "Dean of the Speedway."

Miller died at age 50 while driving a Novi-engined Special.^[3] He is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery (Community Mausoleum, B-19-A) in Indianapolis.^[4]

World Drivers' Championship career

The AAA/USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Drivers' Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship participation, and were eligible to score WDC points alongside those which they may have scored towards the AAA/USAC National Championship.

Miller participated in two World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. His best finish was 25th place,^[5] and he scored no World Drivers' Championship points.

Upon Miller's death during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500, he became the first racing driver to die as a result of an accident during a World Drivers' Championship event.^[6]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

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

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 raced 2,061 laps, or 5,152.5 miles (8,292.1 km) at Indianapolis without leading a lap, an all-time record.

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC
1950	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	GBR	MON	500 DNQ	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA			NC
1951	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 25	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP		NC
1952	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 30	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA		NC
1953	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	ARG	500 DNQ	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	NC

References

^ "Motorsport Memorial - Chet Miller". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
^ Brown, Allen. "Chet Miller". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
^ ^a ^b Yates, Brock W. "The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway." Harper and Brothers: New York. 1956. Page 67.
^ "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.
^ "Chet Miller". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
^ "Deaths in Formula One | Formula 1 | F1 features | ESPN.co.uk". 2015-04-07. Archived from the original on 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-01.

Preceded by Cameron Earl	Formula One fatal accidents May 15, 1953	Succeeded by Charles de Tornaco

[mem-1] "Motorsport Memorial - Chet Miller". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

[2] Brown, Allen. "Chet Miller". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.

[yates-3] Yates, Brock W. "The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway." Harper and Brothers: New York. 1956. Page 67.

[Crown_Hill_Autos-4] "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.

[5] "Chet Miller". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.

[6] "Deaths in Formula One | Formula 1 | F1 features | ESPN.co.uk". 2015-04-07. Archived from the original on 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-01.

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