Danny Kladis

Danny Kladis
Born (1917-02-10)February 10, 1917
Died April 26, 2009(2009-04-26) (aged 92)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality United States American
Active years 1950, 1952, 19541955, 1957
Teams Kurtis Kraft, Bromme, Deidt, Maserati
Entries 5 (1 start)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First entry 1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry 1957 Indianapolis 500

Danny Kladis (10 February 1917 26 April 2009) was an American racecar driver. He was born in Crystal City, Missouri and died at Joliet, Illinois.[1] 92-year-old Kladis was the oldest living Indy 500 starter at the time of his death.[1]

Racing career

Kladis started racing in midget cars in 1935.[1] He stopped racing in the 1940s when all racing in the United States stopped for World War II. During the war, he was a pilot in the United States Army.[1] After the war, he started in the 1946 Indianapolis 500 for Andy Granatelli and finished 21st.[1] He drove 50 laps as a relief driver for Spider Webb in the 1954 Indianapolis 500.[1] Kladis attempted to make the field until the 1957 Indianapolis 500 but was unsuccessful.[1]

Career awards

Kladis was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.[1]

Personal life

Kladis was the father of seven children:[1] George, Joanne, Carole, Ciciela, Christopher, Danny Jr, and Michael.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Chassis Engine Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1946 59 Miller Ford 33 118.890 32 21 46 0 Towed
1949 58 Lencki Failed to qualify
1950 39 Maserati Maserati Failed to qualify
1951 89 Miller Miller Failed to qualify
1952 19 Deidt Offy Failed to qualify
1954* 65 Bromme Offy - - - 30 ? ? Fuel pump
1955 93 Kurtis Kraft Offy Failed to qualify
1957 72 Maserati Maserati Failed to qualify
84 Mercedes Jaguar Failed to qualify
Totals 46 0

Starts 1
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 0
Retired 1

* shared drive with Spider Webb

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. In the 1954 Indianapolis 500, Danny Kladis drove in relief of Spider Webb. As a result of this shared ride, Kladis participated in 1 World Championship race but scored no World Championship points.

References


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