Chet Miller

Chester Joseph Miller (July 19, 1902 – May 15, 1953)<ref name=mem>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="yates">Yates, Brock W. "The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway." Harper and Brothers: New York. 1956. Page 67.</ref> 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.<ref name="yates" /> He is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery (Community Mausoleum, B-19-A) in Indianapolis.<ref name="Crown Hill Autos">Template:Cite news</ref>

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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Motorsports career results

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	3rd	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 raced 2,061 laps, or Template:Convert 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	Points
1950	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	GBR	MON	500 Template:Small	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA			NC	0
1951	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 Template:Small	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP		NC	0
1952	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	SUI	500 Template:Small	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA		NC	0
1953	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser L4	ARG	500 Template:Small	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	NC	0