Robert Charles Cortner (April 16, 1927 – May 19, 1959) was an American automobile racing driver from

Redlands, California Redlands ( ) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 census. The city is located approximately west of Palm Springs and east of Lo ...

. Cortner was killed practicing for the

1959 Indianapolis 500 The 43rd International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail and was also race 2 of 9 in the 1959 World Championship of Drivers ...

Career

Cortner was active on the midget car racing circuit, with a career spanning ten years. He was the outdoor champion of the Bay Cities Racing Association in 1957, and was inducted into the association's hall of fame in 2007.

Death

On Monday, May 18, Cortner passed the rookie test for the Indianapolis 500, allowing him to attempt to qualify a car for the race, which was to be held May 30. On Tuesday when Cortner took to the track,

Johnny Parsons John Wayne Parsons1975 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast - Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network (May 25, 1975) (born August 26, 1944 in Van Nuys, California) is an American race car driver. He is the son of 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner John ...

, who observed the accident, reported that the wind was blowing harder than he had ever seen it blow at the track. Parsons stated that the car was caught in a cross wind, and first came into the infield before shooting back across the track head-first into the outer wall. Cortner's face hit the steering wheel and it appeared he began bleeding internally. He was pronounced dead that evening, the cause being listed as "massive head injuries". A number of other drivers were waiting to donate blood to Cortner when the announcement came that he had died. It was the second death at the speedway that year, as Jerry Unser had died in an accident May 17, and the fiftieth death overall in the history of the speedway, occurring in its fiftieth year of operation.Bob Cortner Dies of Head Injuries Suffered in Indianapolis Practice Run
by Dale Burgess, ''Associated Press'', as reported in the ''Youngstown Vindicator'', May 20th, 1959

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

Personal

Cortner was married with no children. He is buried at the Hillside Memorial Park cemetery in his home town of Redlands, California.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cortner, Bob 1927 births 1959 deaths Sportspeople from Redlands, California Racing drivers from California Racing drivers who died while racing Sports deaths in Indiana