George Metzler
Encyclopedia
George Anthony Metzler, Jr. (1912 to June 3rd, 1949) was an American racecar driver. Metzler was killed attempting to qualify for the 1949 Indianapolis 500
Metzler had attended the Indianapolis 500
as a boy and young man, and his uncle Edwin Metzler had participated in the race as a riding mechanic in 1936 and '37. In his 20s, he had started racing on dirt tracks in the Midwest. He was drafted into the United States Army
during World War II
and saw combat in Japan
. He first attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1947, but had his car break down during the drivers test. Unable to get a car running in 1948, he came back to the track in 1949 driving an older car that had first entered the race in 1936. Having difficulty getting enough speed from the car to qualify, Metzler was perhaps too careless trying to get in to the field the final day, and drove into the wall in turn one. He suffered numerous injuries, and died six days later, leaving behind a wife and two children.
1949 Indianapolis 500
Results of the 1949 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Monday, May 30, 1949....
Metzler had attended the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
as a boy and young man, and his uncle Edwin Metzler had participated in the race as a riding mechanic in 1936 and '37. In his 20s, he had started racing on dirt tracks in the Midwest. He was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and saw combat in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He first attempted to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1947, but had his car break down during the drivers test. Unable to get a car running in 1948, he came back to the track in 1949 driving an older car that had first entered the race in 1936. Having difficulty getting enough speed from the car to qualify, Metzler was perhaps too careless trying to get in to the field the final day, and drove into the wall in turn one. He suffered numerous injuries, and died six days later, leaving behind a wife and two children.