When it comes to style, Englishman and Carlin driver Max Chilton is among the hippest drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series paddock.
The pilot of the No. 59 Gallagher Carlin Chevrolet is no slouch on the track, either.
But skinny jeans and black leather boots in his wardrobe aside, it’s Chloe Chilton, Max’s bride of two years, who takes the family prize in the fashion stakes.
Chloe is a talented artist and graduate of London’s University of the Arts, which specializes in arts, design, fashion and performing arts. It is considered one of the best postsecondary schools of its kind in the world.
Chloe joined Max for a recent trip to Detroit to promote the upcoming Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, scheduled for May 31-June 2 at Belle Isle. She turned heads and made friends at a Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
In suede brown boots, black leather pants and a red-and-white Red Wings jersey signed by the NHL team’s players as a gift on her birthday, Chloe chatted with hockey fans in the concourse and later a Chevrolet dealership group in a private suite.
She also expanded on how a nearly lifelong relationship between them turned into love and marriage.
“Gosh, we met when I was 4 and Max was 6,” said Chloe, shown at left with Max at the 2018 Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration. “Our parents knew each other. It took Max years of persuading me to go out with him, and I finally did go out with him when I was 15 and he was 17.
“My parents are art dealers and Max’s parents bought a house, which they needed to fill up, so they called my dad. I used to work with him on a Saturday morning when I was young, and Max would be dragged along there by his parents, something I’m sure he didn’t want to do at 6 or 7. But I always loved art and fashion.”
When Max, who turned 28 on Sunday, raced in Formula One for Marussia in 2013-14, Chloe was still finishing college and unable to regularly join him at events.
“I’d go and watch him race occasionally,” she said. "But now, INDYCAR allows me to travel with him to all or most of the events.”
So, how does a young wife from Surrey enjoy living away from her home country of England during the racing season?
“It’s great,” Chloe said. “Everyone is so friendly that we have met in America. People are so positive. In England, we tend to be a bit more cynical. I love the States. The weather is so nice, and there’s so much to see.”
What’s still on the Chilton’s bucket list? That’s easy and coming up soon, she hopes.
“Winning the Indy 500, for sure,” Chloe said without hesitation. “We thought for a moment he’d win it in 2017, when he finished fourth.
“It’s unbelievable. Max just loves the race, the whole month of May. We stay in our motorhome at the (Indianapolis Motor) Speedway the whole time.
“The month of May at Indianapolis has an electric feeling. It’s absolutely amazing. We just didn’t know before we came to America and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway how big it would be.
“Wow!”
Max will be among the drivers scheduled to participate in an open test Wednesday on the IMS oval to prepare for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The test streams live on IndyCar.com. Fans may watch for free from the Turn 2 mounds inside the oval.
Indy 500 practice officially commences Tuesday, May 14 through Friday, May 17. All sessions stream live on INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold.
Two days of qualifying to determine the 33-car field are scheduled for May 18 and 19, with INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold, NBCSN and NBC supplying complete coverage.
The Indianapolis 500 will air for the first time on NBC, with live coverage starting at 11 a.m. ET Sunday, May 26. Tickets for all May activities at IMS are available at IMS.com.