Danny Kladis

Danny Kladis

Born	February 10, 1917(1917-02-10)
Died	April 26, 2009(2009-04-26) (aged 92)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1950, 1952, 1954–1955, 1957
Teams	Kurtis Kraft, Bromme, Deidt, Maserati
Races	5 (1 start)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last race	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

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Oldest former Indy 500 driver dies at 92". Yahoo!. 2009-04-28. http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AqVaEEDumjdfVS5WHx749BR9YK1_?slug=ap-obit-kladis&prov=ap&type=lgns. Retrieved 2009-05-01. 

Persondata
Name	Kladis, Danny
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	10 February 1917
Place of birth
Date of death	26 April 2009
Place of death