Charles Edward “Mike” Magill (8 February 1920 – 31 August 2006) was an American racing driver who competed in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series during the 1950s. A consistent performer on the American open-wheel scene, Magill recorded seven top-ten finishes and made three appearances in the Indianapolis 500, which at the time counted towards the Formula One World Championship.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Haddonfield, New Jersey, USA (Source) |
| Born | 8 February 1920 |
| Died | 31 August 2006 |
| First Grand Prix | 1956 Indianapolis 500 (DNQ) |
| Last Grand Prix | 1959 Indianapolis 500 |
| Years Active | 1956-1959 |
| Current/Last Team | Sutton |
Early Life
Born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, on 8 February 1920, Magill served in the United States Army during the Second World War before embarking on a career in professional motor racing.
Following his military service, he turned his attention to Championship Car competition, joining the growing ranks of post-war American drivers.
Championship Car Career
Magill competed in the AAA and later USAC Championship Car series between 1955 and 1959, making a total of 15 starts.
He established a reputation as a dependable and competitive driver, recording seven top-ten finishes during his career. His strongest result came in 1955 at Langhorne Speedway, where he finished an impressive fourth against many of the leading drivers of the era.
Indianapolis 500
Magill made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1957, earning his first start in America’s greatest motor race.
His most memorable appearance came the following year under unusual circumstances. Five-time Formula One World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio had been preparing to compete in the 1958 Indianapolis 500 but was unable to start because of a contractual dispute. Magill was chosen to drive the car that Fangio had tested in practice.
His race began dramatically when he became involved in an opening-lap accident. After spending more than an hour in the pits while repairs were carried out, Magill returned to the circuit and persevered to finish 17th.
He returned for one final Indianapolis 500 in 1959, but his race ended prematurely after becoming involved in a four-car accident.
Because the Indianapolis 500 formed part of the Formula One World Championship between 1950 and 1960, Magill’s three appearances at the Brickyard are also officially recognised as Formula One World Championship starts.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 4 |
| Race Starts | 3 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 18th |
| Best Race Finish | 17th |
| Retirements | 2 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 3 |
| Reached Q3 | – |
| Q2 Eliminations | – |
| Q1 Eliminations | – |
| Did Not Qualify | 1 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 24th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1958 | Kurtis Kraft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 17th | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1959 | Sutton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 30th | 0 | 0 | NC |
