Duray’s Miller

When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway attempted to lower speeds in 1926 by reducing engine size from 122 to 91.5 cubic inches, Harry Miller responded by designing the Miller 91. This particular Miller Special was purchased by Leon Duray in 1927 for $15,000, and he duly entered his black beauty in a 250-mile race on the 1.25-mile Culver City board track in California. His win there established a new record average speed for 250 miles of 124.712mph, breaking Frank Lockhart’s previous mark from Atlantic City by eight mph.

The car was readied for Indianapolis in 1928 where it set a qualifying speed record that stood until 1937, as Duray’s fast lap of 124.018 and four-lap average of 122.391 earned him pole position. The race began with great promise as Duray charged into the lead and paced the field for the first 100 miles in record time. He led for a total of 59 laps, but the Miller developed overheating problems and was ultimately retired after 133 laps, leaving similarly Miller-mounted Louis Meyer to claim the first of his three 500 victories.