Don Freeland

Don Freeland (25 March 1925 - 2 November 2007): Born in Los Angeles, California, Don Freeland was an American racing driver known for his exceptional consistency and reliability in the golden era of American Championship Car racing. A U.S. Navy veteran who served as a diesel mechanic and motor machinist third class in the South Pacific during World War II, Freeland was inducted into the Navy on 24 March 1943.

After the war, he applied his mechanical knowledge to racing, competing in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1952 to 1962, accumulating an impressive 76 career starts. Freeland's Indianapolis 500 career spanned eight consecutive years from 1953 to 1960, showcasing remarkable durability and competitiveness. His crowning achievement came at the 1956 Indianapolis 500, where he finished third, his best result at the Brickyard. That same year, he finished third in the national USAC Championship standings, demonstrating his consistency across the entire season.

Known as a laconic but steady and reliable driver, Freeland was almost invariably around at the finish in AAA and USAC National Championship events. Between 1952 and 1960, he scored an impressive 36 top-ten finishes, won four pole positions, led 134 laps of competition, and achieved 10 finishes of either second or third place. His driving style emphasized reliability and racecraft over pure speed, making him a valuable competitor who teams could depend on to bring the car home. Beyond his racing career, Freeland dedicated himself to highway safety education.

For several years in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was one of several Indianapolis 500 drivers who participated in the Champion Spark Plug Company's Highway Safety programme, visiting high schools across the nation to give safe-driving tips to students. This work demonstrated his commitment to using his racing experience to benefit society and promote responsible driving among young people. His daughter Deana later became a singer and songwriter, though she was better known by a different name. Don Freeland passed away in San Diego on 2 November 2007 after a period of declining health, at the age of 82.

He left behind a legacy as one of the most dependable and consistent drivers of his era, a racer who exemplified professionalism and longevity in American Championship Car racing.