# Chet Miller

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. 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 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

| 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 | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 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 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 | Points |
| 1950 | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser L4 | GBR | MON | 500 DNQ | SUI | BEL | FRA | ITA | | | NC | 0 |
| 1951 | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser L4 | SUI | 500 25 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | ESP | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser L4 | SUI | 500 30 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | NED | ITA | | NC | 0 |
| 1953 | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser L4 | ARG | 500 DNQ | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | NC | 0 |