Bill Vukovich

Bill Vukovich (IPA|) (December 13, 1918 in Fresno, California – May 30, 1955), was an American automobile racing driver. Pronounced "Voo-kuh-vich,", he was known variously as "Vuky" (pronounced "Voo-key") and "The Mad Russian" (though he detested that name, his ancestry being Serbian/Yugoslavian) for his intense driving style, as well as the "Silent Serb" for his cool demeanor. [ [http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=9601&si=121 Vukovich Indy 500 Trophy Sale Inspires Memories] ] Several drivers of his generation have referred to him as the greatest ever encountered in American motorsport. [ [http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Vukovich_Bill.html Bill Vukovich at espn.com] ]

Racer

Midget car

Before he began Indy racing, Vukovich drove midget cars for the Edelbrock dirt track racing team. He raced on the West Coast of the United States in the URA, and won the series' 1945 and 1946 midget car championships. Vukovich won the 1948 Turkey Night Grand Prix at Gilmore Stadium, and six of the last eight races at the stadium track before it was closed for good. [http://www.worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Bill_Vukovich.htm Biography] at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Retrieved January 4 2007] He won the 1950 AAA National Midget championship.

Indianapolis 500

In 1952, his sophomore year in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 500-Mile Race, he quickly moved up from his starting position in the middle of the third row to take the lead, and led 150 laps in dominant fashion before suffering steering failure on the 192nd of the 200 laps. He returned to win the race in consecutive years, 1953 and 1954. He led an astounding 71.7% of laps that he drove in competition at the track, and remains the only driver ever to lead the most laps in the race three consecutive years.

Death at Indy

He was killed in a chain-reaction crash while holding a 17-second lead on the 57th lap of the 1955 Indianapolis 500.

Vukovich was exiting the second turn, trailing three slower cars — driven by Rodger Ward, Al Keller, and Johnny Boyd — when Ward's car swerved as the result of a strong gust of wind. Keller, swerving into the infield to avoid Ward, lost control and slid back onto the track, striking Boyd's car and pushing it into Vukovich's oncoming path. Vukovich's car struck Boyd's, became airborne, and landed upside down after going over the outside backstretch retaining wall and somersaulting several times, killing him. Vukovich was the second of two not only former winners but also defending champions of the race to have died in competition, following Floyd Roberts in 1939, and the only former winner to have been killed while leading. Coincidentally, Roberts' car was also thrown over the backstretch fence after exiting the second turn during his fatal accident.

Lifetime achievement awards

*Vukovich was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991.
*He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1992.
*He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Family

His son, Bill Vukovich II, and his grandson, Bill Vukovich III, also competed in the Indianapolis 500, with Vukovich II taking second in 1973, and Vukovich III being named Rookie of the Year in 1988.

Indy 500 results

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Bill Vukovich participated in 5 World Championship races. He started on the pole once, won 2 races, set 3 fastest lead laps, and finished on the podium twice. He accumulated a total of 19 championship points.

References

ee also

*List of fatalities at Indianapolis

External links

* [http://www.vukovichaccident.com/ A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill Vukovich In The 1955 Indianapolis 500-Mile-Race]