Danny Kladis

Dan Peter "Danny" Kladis (10 February 1917 - 26 April 2009) was an American racing driver who competed in the Indianapolis 500 and became one of the pioneering figures of American open-wheel racing in the post-World War II era. Born in Crystal City, Missouri, Kladis began his racing career in midget cars during 1935 and quickly established himself as a talented competitor in various forms of American motorsport. He won his first midget feature race in 1940, piloting Joe Shaheen's Offenhauser-powered midget to victory at Greenup, Illinois. Kladis also competed in "big cars" on the Central States Racing Association circuit in 1939 and 1940, demonstrating his versatility across different racing machinery.

During World War II, Kladis served with the Army Air Corps as a flight instructor, while also working as a supervisor at the Ford plant on Chicago's southside that built the powerful Pratt and Whitney Wasp R-4360 engines. He took particular pride in "fine tuning" the engines for Howard Hughes' famed "Spruce Goose" wooden airplane. When auto racing in the United States resumed after the Second World War, Kladis made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1946, driving for the legendary Andy Granatelli. Though he finished 21st in that race, it marked the beginning of his connection to America's most prestigious motor race.

Kladis attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 multiple times through 1957, though he was often unsuccessful in making the field. In 1954, he drove 50 laps as a relief driver for Spider Webb during the Indianapolis 500, demonstrating his reliability and consistency. Beyond his Indianapolis adventures, Kladis achieved his greatest success in the United Auto Racing Association (UARA), where he became the driving champion in 1962. Wheeling Bob Lockard's Ford Falcon-powered car, he won approximately eleven feature races during the 1962 season, establishing himself as a dominant force in regional racing.

Kladis's numerous sectional titles and consistent performances led to his induction into the National Midget Racing Hall of Fame in 2007, recognizing his contributions to American midget car racing. Known as a fun-loving storyteller throughout his life, Kladis humorously recounted that "Andy Granatelli called me 'the Wonder Boy of the Speedway' because it was a wonder every time I came around." At the time of his death in April 2009, Kladis was 92 years old and held the distinction of being the oldest living Indianapolis 500 starter. His longevity and enduring connection to American racing history made him a revered figure in motorsport circles, representing the colorful, entrepreneurial spirit of early American racing.