BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

INDIANAPOLIS - Four out of five dentists surveyed do not drive in the Indianapolis 500, but Dr. Jack Miller is that fifth dentist. Miller, a 35-year-old Indianapolis native and practicing dentist, fulfilled a lifelong goal May 10 by qualifying for his first Indy 500. He will start on the outside of Row 6 for the May 25 race. Miller qualified with a four-lap average of 209.250 mph. "I hate to say the cliche that it's a dream come true, but this is a real honor for me," Miller said. "I'm the happiest I've been in my entire life."

WHAT: Indy 500 WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway WHEN: May 25, 1997 TIME: 11 a.m. TV: Channel 9, 2 LINEUP

Miller is the sort of story Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George envisioned when he formed the upstart IRL (Indy Racing League) in 1996. The boycott by the more established CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) circuit has enabled drivers such as Miller, who raced from 1992-96 in the lesser-known Indy Lights series, to reach the Indy 500.

Miller grew up at the Speedway, having attended "between 15 and 20" Indy 500s as a fan.

"I wanted to run here so bad that I worked for the Associated Press taking pictures for five years, so I could stand in turns one and two and learn the line through there," Miller said.

Miller's grandfather owned midget and sprint cars. Young Jack would sit in the vehicles, close his eyes, and pretend to race. And Miller's father, Jim, brought Jack to Indy yearly.

Jack learned early that it took big money and big connections to reach Indy. Realizing how unpredictable the racing world is, he entered the Indiana University School of Dentistry. He graduated in 1992 having met his future wife, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth and Jack were married last October, and have a dental practice together in Carmel, Ind., just north of Indianapolis. But racing was always there, and he made his Indy Lights debut the same year he got out of dental school.

"He wanted a stable profession," Elizabeth said. "And as he started going through school, he realized he could use dentistry as a tie-in to gaining sponsors."

Jack is sponsored by Crest toothpaste, under the umbrella of Cincinnati giant Procter & Gamble. He has worked up the sponsorship ladder from Teledyne Waterpik to AquaFresh to Crest, America's No. 1-selling toothpaste.

Why would an otherwise normal, laid-back dentist such as Miller risk his life racing at more than 200 mph?

"Because ever since I met him, this has been his dream," Elizabeth said. "It's nice he's been able to fulfill that, because so many people don't get that chance."

The start of the Indy 500 is called the most exciting moment in sports, and Miller says he has dreamed of it since he could walk. "I thought the feeling would be altered, without Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti here," Miller said. "But I've gotten over that, when you look down and see the Arie Luyendyks and Eddie Cheevers out here. When you're in the car, they're the enemy and you want to beat them."

Jack has been practicing dentistry only a couple of days a month - but not in May, of course. Elizabeth continues to work full-time. And they will continue, once Indy is over, to travel the country with their mobile "Crest clinics," giving underprivileged kids free check-ups and a chance to see a touring Indy car.

"I fulfilled my goal of becoming a dentist and to have a practice," Miller said. "Now, my goal is to become an excellent racer and win races. And win the Indy 500."

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