Duane Carter

Duane Carter

Born	(1913-05-05)May 5, 1913
Died	May 7, 1993(1993-05-07) (aged 80)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1950–1955, 1959–1960
Teams	Kurtis Kraft, Kuzma, Lesovsky, Stevens, Deidt
Races	8
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	1
Career points	6.5
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last race	1960 Indianapolis 500

Duane Carter (May 5, 1913 – May 7, 1993) was an American racecar driver. He raced midget cars, sprint cars, and IndyCars.^[1] Carter was born in Fresno, California, and he died in Indianapolis, Indiana. His son Pancho raced in Indy cars, along with Johnny Parsons (who he helped raise^[2]).

Racing career

Midget cars

Carter started racing midgets at the 1/5 mile dirt track in the west side of Fresno while attending Fresno State University. He was one of six drivers who went to Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand in 1937. He was a consistent winner on the Nutley board track in 1939 while future journalist Chris Economaki was his unofficial crew chief. He won the 1940 Detroit VFW Motor Speedway title, the 1942 championship at Sportsman Park in Cleveland. He captured a 500-mile (800 km) victory in his midget car at the 1947 Los Angeles Coliseum Motordome after Danny Oakes was initially declared the winner.^[1]

Sprint cars

He moved up to the sprint cars, and won the 1950 Midwest division.^[1]

Indy Cars

He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1948-1955, 1959–1960, and 1963 seasons with 47 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in each season. He finished in the top ten 23 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1953 at Phoenix. In his last race, at the Indy 500, he drove the innovative John Crosthwaite designed Harvey Aluminium Special ‘roller skate car’ with the then pioneering low profile, wide racing tyres and a stock Chevrolet engine. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

USAC director

He retired from competition in 1956 to take the Competition Director position for USAC. He returned to competition in 1959 after Henry Banks took over the position.^[1]

Career awards

• He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1991.
• He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1989.^[1]

Indy 500 results

* shared drive with Sam Hanks

** shared drive with Troy Ruttman

• Carter drove over 4,300 miles (6,900 km) at Indianapolis without leading a lap. This currently ranks 4th on the all-time list.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

† Indicates shared drive with Sam Hanks after retiring his own car.

* Indicates shared drive with Troy Ruttman. Carter's own car finished 15th after being taken over by Marshall Teague, Jimmy Jackson and Tony Bettenhausen.

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
2. ↑ Biography for Johnny Parsons at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
3. ↑ Road & Track magazine June 1963
4. ↑ Motor Trend magazine June 1963
5. ↑ Car & Driver magazine June 1963
6. ↑ Car and Driver magazine August 1963
7. ↑ Indianapolis 500 Mile Race USAC Yearbook 1963. Floyd Clymer