George Fonder

George Thomas Fonder (22 February 1917 - 14 June 1958): American racing driver from Elmhurst, Pennsylvania, who competed in American midget car and championship car racing during the 1940s and 1950s. Participated in five Indianapolis 500 races from 1950 to 1956, which counted toward the Formula One World Championship during that period. Became Eastern AAA Midget Champion in 1941, establishing himself as one of the region's premier midget car drivers during the pre-war era. His championship demonstrated exceptional car control and racecraft on the tight, treacherous dirt ovals where midget racing flourished.

Achieved his best Championship Car finish at the October 1949 race at Langhorne Speedway, a notoriously dangerous one-mile dirt oval known as the 'Track That Ate the Heroes.' Made his Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship debut in the inaugural 1950 championship season, competing in the first race that counted toward the newly created World Championship. Competed at Indianapolis again in 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1956, though never achieved a classified finish, with all five appearances ending in retirements due to mechanical failures or accidents. Scored no Formula One World Championship points from his five Indianapolis starts.

Retired from active racing in the mid-1950s after a successful career spanning nearly two decades in American oval racing. Tragically, Fonder came out of retirement in 1958 to race at Hatfield Speedway in Pennsylvania as a favor to George Marshman, the race promoter. Killed in a midget car racing accident at Hatfield on 14 June 1958, dying two days before his 41st birthday during what was meant to be a one-off appearance for a friend. His death highlighted the dangers of midget car racing, which remained one of motorsport's most treacherous disciplines during the 1950s with minimal safety equipment and primitive track conditions.

Fonder's Formula One 'career' exemplified the statistical anomaly created by including Indianapolis 500 results in the World Championship, with American oval specialists earning championship race starts despite never intending to compete in European grand prix racing.