220:, 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
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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,
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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.
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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.
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Cortner was married with no children. He is buried at the
Hillside Memorial Park cemetery in his home town of Redlands, California.
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Bob
Cortner Dies of Head Injuries Suffered in Indianapolis Practice Run
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Bay Cities Racing
Association Hall of Fame inductees by year
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as reported in the
Pittsburgh Press, May 20th, 1959
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183:(April 16, 1927 – May 19, 1959) was an American
506:Bay Cities Racing Association champions by year
228:Complete Formula One World Championship results
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551:of Charleston, South Carolina, May 20, 1959
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191:. Cortner was killed practicing for the
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643:Sportspeople from Redlands, California
7:
653:Racing drivers who died while racing
561:Second 500 Death Baffles Officials
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542:Bob Cortner dies after Auto Wreck
648:Racing drivers from California
1:
605:Formula One fatal accidents
674:
564:United Press International
203:Cortner was active on the
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62:World Championship career
658:Sports deaths in Indiana
529:August 13, 2012, at the
511:October 3, 2011, at the
240:indicate fastest lap)
181:Robert Charles Cortner
584:Youngstown Vindicator
582:, as reported in the
193:1959 Indianapolis 500
173:1959 Indianapolis 500
163:1958 Indianapolis 500
52:Indianapolis, Indiana
549:The News and Courier
189:Redlands, California
35:Redlands, California
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621:
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612:Succeeded by
578:by Dale Burgess,
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205:midget car racing
185:automobile racing
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67:Active years
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595:Preceded by
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49:(aged 32)
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32:April 16, 1927
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131:Career points
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615:Harry Schell
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302:Kurtis Kraft
237:
236:) (Races in
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187:driver from
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150:Fastest laps
98:2 (0 starts)
85:Kurtis Kraft
47:(1959-05-19)
45:May 19, 1959
638:1959 deaths
633:1927 births
402:Offenhauser
307:Offenhauser
222:Jerry Unser
159:First entry
60:Formula One
17:Bob Cortner
627:Categories
488:References
169:Last entry
28:1927-04-16
527:Archived
509:Archived
480:Personal
249:Chassis
291:Points
252:Engine
238:italics
123:Podiums
95:Entries
397:Cornis
199:Career
89:Cornis
54:, U.S.
37:, U.S.
246:Year
211:Death
81:Teams
392:1959
297:1958
288:WDC
114:Wins
75:1959
71:1958
42:Died
22:Born
470:NC
461:USA
455:ITA
449:POR
443:GER
437:GBR
431:FRA
425:NED
420:DNQ
416:500
410:MON
383:NC
378:MOR
372:ITA
366:POR
360:GER
354:GBR
348:FRA
342:BEL
337:DNQ
333:500
327:NED
321:MON
315:ARG
285:11
282:10
234:key
629::
473:0
405:L4
386:0
310:L4
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267:5
264:4
261:3
258:2
255:1
195:.
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232:(
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73:–
30:)
26:(
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