Gaston Chevrolet
Winner of the 1920 Indianapolis 500 and national champion.
Gaston Louis Chevrolet was an American racing driver and automobile manufacturer. He won both the Indianapolis 500 and the American National Championship in 1920.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Gaston Louis Chevrolet
- Born
- 26 October 1892
- Birthplace
- Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France
- Died
- 25 November 1920
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Titles
- AAA Championship Car (1920)
- Major victories
- Indianapolis 500 (1920)
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Gaston Chevrolet was born in France near Beaune, in the Côte-d'Or region, after his Swiss family had relocated there. His father worked as a watch-maker, and he was the younger brother of Louis and Arthur Chevrolet. Gaston later moved to the United States, where he worked as an automotive mechanic and raced cars alongside his brothers. In 1916, he became a partner with Louis and Arthur in the Frontenac Motor Corporation.
Indianapolis 500
Driving a Frontenac, Chevrolet finished tenth in the 1919 Indianapolis 500 while brother Louis placed seventh. In 1920, he broke the dominance of European-built cars by winning in a redesigned Monroe-Frontenac, becoming the first driver to complete the 500-mile race without a tire change. He could not defend his win due to his death later that year. He was the last French-born winner until Simon Pagenaud in 2019.
1920 National Championship and death
After his Indianapolis victory on May 31, 1920, Chevrolet won a 100-mile match race against Tommy Milton and Ralph Mulford. Racing moved to the West Coast in late 1920. At the Beverly Hills Speedway board track, during the last race of the season, his Frontenac crashed on lap 146 after contacting Eddie O'Donnell's car; both cars tumbled down the embankment. Chevrolet died instantly, along with O'Donnell's riding mechanic; O'Donnell died the next day from a skull fracture. Chevrolet is buried next to his brother Louis in Indianapolis. Despite the crash, he had accumulated enough points to win the AAA National Championship for 1920. Later revisionist publications retrospectively claimed Tommy Milton as champion based on fabricated calculations, and the present-day Astor Challenge Cup lists Milton instead of Chevrolet.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Gaston Chevrolet born?
Gaston Chevrolet was born on 26 October 1892 in Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France.
When did Gaston Chevrolet die?
Gaston Chevrolet died on 25 November 1920 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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