Danny Kladis

Dan Peter Kladis was an American racing driver whose long life and deep roots in grassroots motorsport made him a respected figure in U.S. racing history. Best known for his appearances at the Indianapolis 500 and his early success in midget racing, Kladis represented the hardy generation of drivers who balanced courage, mechanical skill, and persistence in one of auto racing’s toughest eras. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living starter of the Indianapolis 500.

Driver Bio

Nationality	American
Birthplace	Crystal City, Missouri, USA
Born	10 February 1917
Died	26 April 2009
First Entry	1950 Indianapolis 500
Last Grand Prix	1957 Indianapolis 500
Years Active	1950–1952, 1954–1955, 1957

Born in the United States—most commonly listed as 1917, though some wartime documents record 1916—Kladis came of age during the Great Depression, when motorsport often offered excitement, opportunity, and community in difficult times. He began racing midget cars in 1935, joining one of America’s most competitive and dangerous proving grounds. Midget racing demanded bravery and precision on tight dirt and paved ovals, and it produced many of the drivers who later reached Indianapolis.

Like many careers of his generation, Kladis’s progress was interrupted by global conflict. During the Second World War, he served as a pilot in the United States Air Force. That experience added another chapter of courage and discipline before he returned to civilian life—and back to racing—when peace resumed.

When American motorsport restarted after the war, Kladis seized his chance on the biggest stage. He entered the 1946 Indianapolis 500 driving for Andy Granatelli’s team. In a race famed for attrition, danger, and mechanical strain, Kladis brought the car home in 21st place. Simply qualifying and finishing the Indy 500 in that period was a notable accomplishment, especially for a driver from the rough-and-ready midget ranks.

He continued to chase Indianapolis opportunities throughout the following decade. In the 1954 Indianapolis 500, Kladis served as a relief driver for Spider Webb, completing 50 laps during the race. Relief driving was a common feature of the era, when cockpit heat, physical exhaustion, and brutally demanding cars often required shared efforts. Kladis’s contribution earned him official classification in the event.

Because the Indianapolis 500 counted toward the FIA World Drivers’ Championship from 1950 to 1960, that 1954 appearance also gave Kladis a place in Formula One statistical history. He is officially credited with participation in one World Championship race, finishing 30th overall and scoring no championship points. It is a reminder of the unusual era when Indianapolis and European Grand Prix racing briefly shared the same world title.

Kladis continued trying to make the Indianapolis field through 1957, though qualifying success proved elusive. That persistence was typical of the men who pursued Indy in the 1940s and 1950s—drivers who often fought for limited seats, built careers one chance at a time, and measured success not only in wins but in simply making the grid.

Away from racing, Kladis was a family man and father of seven children: George, Joanne, Carole, Ciciela, Christopher, Danny Jr., and Michael. His life extended far beyond the speedway, spanning war service, sport, and generations of family.

Recognition for his contributions arrived later in life when he was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2007. It was a fitting honour for a driver whose foundations were built in the fiercely competitive midget scene and whose career embodied the grit of early American racing.

Dan Kladis died on 26 April 2009 at the age of 92.

Grand Prix Stats

Race Entries	6
Race Starts	1
Did Not Start	0
Best Race Finish	30*
Retirements	1
First-Lap Retirements	0
Not Classified	0
Disqualified	0
Did Not Qualify	5

Qualifying

Qualifying Sessions	6
Reached Q3	–
Q2 Eliminations	–
Q1 Eliminations	–
Did Not Qualify	5

Teammates

1 driver	Involvement	First Year	Last Year
Spider Webb	1	1954

FIA World Drivers’ Championship results

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