Al Keller

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Al Keller (right) with Herb Thomas (left) and Fonty Flock (center) at Palm Beach, Florida fairgrounds (taken between 1952 and 1954), courtesy of the Florida Photographic Collection
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Al Keller (right) with Herb Thomas (left) and Fonty Flock (center) at Palm Beach, Florida fairgrounds (taken between 1952 and 1954), courtesy of the Florida Photographic Collection

Al Keller (April 11, 1920 Alexander, New YorkNovember 19, 1961 Phoenix, Arizona) was an American racecar driver.

Keller participated in the NASCAR "Strictly Stock"/"Grand National" (predecessors to the current NEXTEL Cup) series from 1949 to 1956 with 29 career starts. He won two races during the 1954 season and is the only driver in the history of NASCAR's top division to have won a race in a foreign-built car, winning the 1954 Grand National road-race at the Linden Airport in New Jersey, driving a Jaguar.

In 1954 Keller began a transition to champ cars. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1954-1959 and 1961 seasons with 32 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in all but the first of those years. He finished in the top ten 13 times, with his best finish in 2nd position, in 1956 at Atlanta and in 1961 at Milwaukee. His best Indy finish was 5th in 1961.

Keller died as a result of injuries sustained in a champ car crash at the Arizona State Fairgrounds track.

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1955 42 22 139.551 17 27 54 0 Crash BS
1956 55 28 141.193 26 14 195 0 Flagged
1957 16 8 141.398 14 27 75 0 Crash T1
1958 52 21 142.931 19 11 200 0 Running
1959 57 28 142.057 27 18 163 0 Piston
1961 19 26 146.157 6 5 200 0 Running
Totals 887 0
Starts 6
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 1
Top 10 1
Retired 3

[edit] F1 career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was considered part of the Formula One schedule from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with F1 points and participation. Al Keller participated in 5 Formula One races. He started on the pole 0 times, won 0 races, set 0 fast laps, and finished on the podium 0 times. He accumlated a total of 0 championship points.

[edit] External links


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