Bill vukovich race car driver

Bill vukovich project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. He was named the 1968 indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, a result of his seventhplace finish. In 1988, he was indianapolis 500 race rookie of the year and also a three time veteran of the indy 500 198890. Winner of the 1953 and 1954 indianapolis 500 races. Vukovich s generosity to fellow drivers and friends was told by his mechanics, jim travers and frank coon, and others in the racing community. An introvert but good humoured man, bill and his brother eli, took over the family grape farm. Viewer discretion advised he was killed in a chainreaction crash while holding a 17second lead on the 57th lap of the 1955 indianapolis 500. Vukovich switched to entrant lindsey hopkins yearold car on the. Born in fresno, california, he was a thirdgeneration driver grandson of bill vukovich i and son of bill vukovich ii. He was an actor, known for roar of the crowd 1953, formula 1 1950 and profile of a race driver 1968.

Profile for racing driver bill vukovich from united states. William john vukovich ii born march 29, 1944 in riverside, california is a former driver in the championship car division of usac and cart series. He was a threetime starter of the indianapolis 500. Bill vukovich, who concentrated most of his racing efforts on the indianapolis 500 after winning the 1950 american automobile association national midget championship, was the fourth driver to score two consecutive victories at indianapolis. Bill vukovich of fresno, ca, was often called vuky and the fresno flash. William john vukovich iii august 31, 1963 november 25, 1990, better known as billy vukovich iii or bill vukovich iii was an. Bill vukovich ii racing career profile driver database. Indianapolis speedway race automobiles, racing automobile racing drivers automobile mechanics automobiles maintenance and repair crowds. Vukovichs car struck boyds, became airborne, and landed upside down after going over the outside backstretch retaining wall, killing him. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Although described as a russian, vukovich was actually of serbian descent. His terrified codriver repeatedly protested as vukovich sliced corners on the precipitous mountain roads.

The grandson of twotime indianapolis 500 winner bill vukovich and the son. Bill vukovich ii born march 29, 1944, fresno, california, is a former driver in the championship car division of usac and cart championship car series he was named the 1968 indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, a result of his 7th place finish. Bill vukovich iii born 1963 continued family tradition as a racer, starting three times at indianapolis. In 1952, he led most of the race before being eliminated by steering gear failure with only nine laps to go. Bill vukovich was a racing legend during the fifties, best remembered for three indy 500 races. Of serbian descent another moniker the mad russian was somewhat misplaced, bill vukovich scored backtoback wins at indianapolis only to be killed when attempting to become the first man to win the race for three years in a row. His son bill vukovich jr born 1944 was also a race car driver, participating times at indianapolis 500 and taking the 1968 indianapolis 500 rookie of the year honor. Racing fans said that vukie liked to drive just one way hard and fast. Bill vukovich would have turned 100 on december heres what made the mad.

His racing career began at an early age, and he quickly established himself as one of the best drivers. That same race threetime winner mauri rose suffered the crash that. Considered by many racing analysts to be the greatest indianapolis 500 driver of all time. Now lives in indiana and has a few business interests. Within a few years, bill vukovich was one of the countrys top drivers. Vukovich was one of the top openwheel racecar drivers of the late 1940s and early1950s.

On race day, one of the hottest indy 500s of all time, one driver died of heat stroke and only five finishers managed to do so without the aid of a relief driver. Genealogy profile for bill vukovich genealogy for william john vukovich, sr. A hall of fame open wheeler with only five races at the brickyard must have been mighty good. Killed in the 1955 indianapolis 500, whilst on course for his 3rd successive win. Built by frank kurtis and driven by bill vukovich, the car revolutionized racing at indianapolis. Further information on this record can be found at its source. With better luck, vukovich would also have won at least the 1952 and 1955 indianapolis classics as well. He gave me a list of eight hot dogsdrivers with enough impassioned stamina to go flat out for as long as the raceor their carswould last. Bill vukovich was born on december, 1918 in alameda, california, united states as william john vukovich sr. Vukovich, bill, 19181955 indianapolis motor speedway speedway, ind. Njegov sin bill vukovich ii zavrsio je na drugom mjestu na indianapolisu 500, 1973. Vukovich iii not only had the name but a spectacular driving record.

He died on may 30, 1955 in indianapolis, indiana, united states. Although he made his big mark in indy car racing, vukovich drove midget cars for the edelbrock dirt track racing team early in his career. Bill vukovich, 195354 if a mount rushmore of the greatest drivers in indianapolis 500 history was carved from a granite mountainside, fourtime winners a. Raced in the heroes of indy race in the mid 2000s, but otherwise, his racing links are confined to memorial functions for his father and son, though he does appear often at historics, despite recent health problems. Bill vukovich 3d, 27, driver of racing cars the new york. Beyond that, he won countless midget races, barnstorming the country. Vuky was one of the greatest indycar drivers of all time. Few drivers dominated a short era of the indianapolis 500 more than bill vukovich, who won consecutive. Bill vukovich ii born 29 mar 1944 riverside, california.

My father was the greatest driver to ever race at indianapolis, insists bill vukovich jr. Bill vukovich of fresno, ca, was often called vuky and. Foyt, al unser and rick mears would be guaranteed a place, and it wouldnt be a stretch to put a twotime winner in the fourth spot bill vukovich. He won the race twice in a row and lost his life trying to become the only man to win it three times in succession. Espn classic vukovich was a fearless racing legend. None would be as great as bill vukovich motor sport magazine. Vukovich, bill open wheel 1992 inductees hall of fame. So when nitro man jack mcgrath, drivercrew chief extraordinaire, made. Bill vukovich was an american racer of serbian ancestry who scored two victories at indianapolis 500 in 1953 and he was killed at 1955 indy 500 indy car racing dirt track racing indy cars automobile classic race cars racing helmets old race cars sprint cars f1 drivers what others are saying. William john vukovich sr was an american automobile racing driver.

Howard keck had arranged for epperly and his team to build the car for bill vukovich who had previously won the indy 500 back to back in 1953 and 1954. Billy vukovich, iii 19631990 find a grave memorial. M y dad was bill srs older brother the eight children have all passed on. Indianapolis speedway race automobiles, racing automobile racing drivers interviews trophies borgwarner corporation crowds. Bill vukovich s legacy continued through his ancestors. In terms of his skill and his ability and his determination.

Bill vukovich fatal accident in the 1955 indy 500 youtube. Before he began indy racing, vukovich drove midget cars for the edelbrock dirt track racing team. I think bill vukovich was probably the greatest driver weve ever known, said fellow twotime indy 500 winner rodger ward, when speaking to espn classics sportscentury series. Bill vukovich came out of of californias midget circuit to become one of the greatest drivers to ever compete on the massive indianapolis motor speedway. Vukovich had been the outstanding driver at the brickyard. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. In 1955, driver bill vuky vukovich returned to the indianapolis 500 to defend his title and try for an unmatched third consecutive win in the famed race. December, 1918 may 30, 1955 was an american automobile racing driver. Bill vukovich with his wife and marie wilson in victory circle. See more ideas about indy cars, indy car racing and race cars. Click on the site to see bill vukovich s career results at that track glossary. The thirdgeneration vukovich iii was killed in a sprint car race in bakersfield, california in 1990, prematurely ending his life at the age of 27.

Bill vukovich iii fatal accident at mesa marin raceway. Winner bill vukovich interviewed in victory circle, 1954. He won the 1953 and 1954 indianapolis 500 plus two more american automobile. He won the 1953 and 1954 indianapolis 500 plus two. Memory lane bill vukovich wins 1954 indianapolis 500. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Bill won the 1953 indy 500 in 1953 he endured searing heat and led for 195 laps to win the 500, one of only five drivers that year to finish the race without relief.

The first and third have passed on in racing accidents. Bill vukovich winning the 1954 indy daddys favorite driver. Driver bill vukovich 1952 aaa champ car series results. December, 1918 may 30, 1955 was a serbian american automobile racing driver. Vukies blazing spirit cloaked in a cool demeanor was evident in the 1954 pan american road race. He won the 1953 and 1954 indianapolis 500 plus two more american automobile association national championship races. May 30, 1953 ignoring the blistering heat and leaving his fellow drivers in his fumes, bill vukovich put on. Espn classic mad russian won first indy 500 in 1953. Bill vukovich 3d, a thirdgeneration race car driver whose grandfather was killed while leading the indianapolis 500 in 1955, died sunday after a crash at mesa marin speedway. Excellent quality racing film of historic may 30, 1955 race duration.

Vukovich raced in the 19651982 seasons, with 158 combined career starts, including the indianapolis 500 in 19681977, 19791980. Memory lane bill vukovich wins 1954 indianapolis 500 youtube. The design offset and lowered the engine and surrounded the driver with a highsided cockpit, creating the first indianapolis roadster. Winner bill vukovich interviewed in victory circle, 1954 description. In winning the indianapolis 500 twice, the senior vukovich went from west coast midget racer to one of the most respected drivers in the paddock. William bill vukovich december, 1918 in fresno, california may 30, 1955 in indianapolis, indiana was a yugoslavian american automobile racing driver.

Bill vukovich s indianapolis 500 career was meteoric and placed him among the best ever to compete at the famed memorial day classic. To this day, no driver has ever won the indy 500 three times in a row, so keck and vukovich were determined to go all out to win the 1955 race with the unfair advantage of the streamliner. One driver who you may not consider is one of the 19 drivers who has won multiple indy 500 races and one of the five drivers who has won backtoback indy 500 races. Bill vukovich iii, grandson of a twotime winner of the indianapolis 500 and himself the only thirdgeneration indy 500 driver, was killed sunday while practicing for a california racing assn. There are 9 cousins remaining i am the youngest female, 67. Bill vukovich 14, driving fuel injection special, leads manuel ayulo 88 and the rest of the drivers into the first run of the indy 500mile race on the indianapolis motor speedway track in. Although bill vukovich died in the 1955 indianapolis 500, the vukovich story continued through his son, bill, jr. William john vukovich iii was an american race car driver. Bill vukovich ii vukovich at the 2014 indianapolis 500.