Danny Kladis

Dan Peter Kladis (February 10, 1917 or February 10, 1916 – April 26, 2009) was an American racing driver.^[1][2] 92-year-old Kladis was the oldest living Indianapolis 500 starter at the time of his death.^[3]

Danny Kladis
Born	Dan Peter Kladis (1917-02-10)February 10, 1917 Crystal City, Missouri, U.S.
Died	April 26, 2009(2009-04-26) (aged 92) Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Champ Car career
4 races run over 9 years
First race	1946 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race	1956 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 0 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1950–1952, 1954–1955, 1957
Teams	Maserati, Miller, Diedt, Bromme, Kurtis Kraft
Entries	6 (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

Racing career

Kladis began his racing career in midget cars during 1935.^[3] When auto racing in the United States resumed after the Second World War, Kladis started in the 1946 Indianapolis 500, driving for Andy Granatelli; Kladis finished 21st.^[3]

Kladis drove 50 laps as a relief driver for Spider Webb during the 1954 Indianapolis 500.^[3] Kladis attempted to make the 500 field until the 1957 Indianapolis 500 but was often unsuccessful.^[3]

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.

Kladis participated in one World Drivers' Championship race at Indianapolis. He relieved Spider Webb, finishing in 30th place.^[1] He scored no World Drivers' Championship points.

Personal life

While Kladis' birth date on most documents is 1917, on his WWII draft card it is given as 1916. He served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during the War.^[3]

He was the father of seven children:^[3] George, Joanne, Carole, Ciciela, Christopher, Danny Jr, and Michael.

Awards and honors

Kladis was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.^[3]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 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 Diedt 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

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	WDC	Pts
1950	Federal Engineering	Maserati 8CTF	Maserati 3.0 L8 s	GBR	MON	500 DNQ	SUI	BEL	FRA	ITA			NC	0
1951	Trainor Chicago	Trainor Special	Miller L6 s	SUI	500 DNQ	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	ESP		NC	0
1952	Tuffanelli-Derrico	Diedt Tuffanelli Derrico	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	SUI	500 DNQ	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	ITA		NC	0
1954	Advance Muffler	Bromme D	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	ARG	500 30	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	SUI	ITA	ESP	NC	0
1955	Roy McKay	Kurtis Kraft 3000	Offenhauser 4.5 L4	ARG	MON	500 DNQ	BEL	NED	GBR	ITA			NC	0
1957	Morgan Engineering	Maserati 4CLT/48	Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4 s	ARG	MON	500 DNQ	FRA	GBR	GER	PES	ITA		NC	0
	Safety Auto Glass	Mercedes W154	Jaguar 3.4 L6			500 DNQ
Source:[4][5]

References

1. "Danny Kladis". champcarstats.com. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
2. Brown, Allen. "Danny Kladis". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
3. "Oldest former Indy 500 driver dies at 92". Yahoo!. April 28, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
4. "Danny Kladis – Involvement". StatsF1. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
5. "Danny Kladis". historicracing.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.