Speed Gardner
Birth nameWilliam H. Gardner
Birth dateJuly 2, 1895
Birth placePittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death dateApril 25, 1972 (aged 76)
Death placeBayonet Point, Florida, U.S.
Speed Gardner
Total champ races8
Years in champ6
Best champ pos15th (1930)
First champ race1929 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last champ race1931 25-mile Heat (Altoona)
Champ wins0
Champ podiums0
Champ poles0

William H. "Speed" Gardner[1] (July 2, 1895 – April 25, 1972) was an American racing driver during the AAA era. His best result was the first Indianapolis 500 race he managed to qualify for, finishing sixth in 1929 with the help of his relief driver Chet Gardner,[2] completing the event at an average speed of 88.4 mph in his Miller powered Chromolite car.[3] After two successive mechanical failures in 1930 and 1931, he looked ready to qualify for the 1932 Indianapolis 500,[4] but failed to do so. While attempting to qualify for the 1933 race he crashed and sustained a fracture to his left thigh along with severe bruises.[5]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired
19294828105.9852762000Running
1930192795.5852535140Main bearing
1931177109.82013251070Frame
Totals3210
Starts3
Poles0
Front Row0
Wins0
Top 50
Top 101
Retired2

References

  1. ^ "All the facts about the biggest motor race of Motordom". The Indianapolis News. May 28, 1932. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  2. ^ "Chester Leroy Gardner Bio.". Historicracing.com. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "IMS archive". IMS. Archived July 1, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Deadline Approaches as Tardy Drivers Urge Cars". The Indianapolis News. May 27, 1932. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "Speedway News". The Daily Banner. May 26, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved December 28, 2019.