Chester Joseph Miller (July 19, 1902 – May 15, 1953) 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.Yates, Brock W. "The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway." Harper and Brothers: New York. 1956. Page 67. 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. He is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery (Community Mausoleum, B-19-A) in Indianapolis.

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, 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.

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired1930411597.36023131610Flagged19312715106.18525102000Running1932929111.05323211250Engine19332832112.02523201630Rod19344632109.2522933110Crash T119353417113.55224102000Running1936183117.675352000Running1937713119.2131330360Ignition193835121.8989 3rd2000Running193935126.3188211090Crash BS19403427121.39227171890Flagged1941419121.5402362000Running1946517124.649818640Oil line19483119127.2498201080Oil trouble19513228135.798325560Ignition19522127139.034130410SuperchargerTotals20630

Starts16Poles0Front Row1Wins0Top 52Top 105Retired9

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 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 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0 1951 Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser L4 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0

References