William John Vukovich (1918-12-13)December 13, 1918 Oakland, California, U.S.
Died
May 30, 1955(1955-05-30) (aged 36) Speedway, Indiana, U.S.
Championship titles
AAA National Midget Car (1950) Major victories Indianapolis 500 (1953, 1954)
Champ Car career
22 races run over 6 years
Best finish
3rd (1953)
First race
1951 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race
1955 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win
1952 Detroit 100 (Detroit)
Last win
1954 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins
Podiums
Poles
4
6
3
Formula One World Championship career
Active years
1950 – 1955
Teams
Maserati, Trevis, Kurtis Kraft
Entries
6 (5 starts)
Championships
0
Wins
2
Podiums
2
Career points
19
Pole positions
1
Fastest laps
3
First entry
1950 Indianapolis 500
First win
1953 Indianapolis 500
Last win
1954 Indianapolis 500
Last entry
1955 Indianapolis 500
William John "Bill" Vukovich (/ˈvjuːkəvɪtʃ/; December 13, 1918 – May 30, 1955) was an American racing driver. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500, plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races, and died while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500.
Several drivers of his generation have referred to Vukovich as the greatest ever in American motorsport.[1] He is generally considered one of the best racing drivers of his generation, and is the only driver to lead the most laps in three consecutive Indy 500s.
^"ESPN Classic - Vukovich was a fearless racing legend". www.espn.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
William John "Bill" Vukovich (/ˈvjuːkəvɪtʃ/; December 13, 1918 – May 30, 1955) was an American racing driver. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500...
Indianapolis 500 winner BillVukovich and the father of Billy Vukovich III, both of whom were killed in racing accidents. Vukovich and his wife, Joyce, were...
Indianapolis 500 winner BillVukovich and the son of BillVukovich II, Vukovich III was the 1988 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Billy Vukovich III was killed...
Championship of Drivers. The race is notable to many as the race in which BillVukovich was killed in a crash while seemingly on his way to an unprecedented...
Championship of Drivers. BillVukovich, after falling just short a year before, dominated the race, leading 195 of the 200 laps. Vukovich won the first of two...
Retired Leroy Warriner (#67) - Withdrew, injured Chuck Weyant R (#52) BillVukovich had to work much harder in this race due to his car was now 2 years...
Spanish driver Fernando Alonso won at the age of 22 years and 26 days. BillVukovich led 150 laps, but with 9 laps to go, he broke a steering linkage while...
2022 British Grand Prix 2024 Australian Grand Prix 68 United States BillVukovich 2 1951–1955 1953 Indianapolis 500 1954 Indianapolis 500 Argentina José...
signing with King Racing. Billy Vukovich III, son of BillVukovich II, and grandson of two-time winner BillVukovich, would become the first third-generation...
running of the 500, BillVukovich leads 195 laps and cruises to a win by nearly three laps over 1952 rookie of the year Art Cross. Vukovich wins without relief...
occurrence in separate entries) Peter DePaolo, 1925 Lee Wallard, 1951 BillVukovich, 1953 Jimmy Bryan, 1958 Jim Clark, 1965 Mario Andretti, 1969 Al Unser...
year in a row. He was the first to successfully defend his title since BillVukovich won in 1953–1954. Unser became the first and only driver to-date to...
runnings of the race, joining Castroneves, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, BillVukovich, and Al Unser. Additionally, Newgarden received a $440,000 bonus prize...
1994 San Marino Formula One Grand Prix. IndyCar drivers Scott Brayton, BillVukovich and Tony Bettenhausen NASCAR drivers Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr., Terry...
Prix with Honda and came third overall in the 1963 season with BRM. BillVukovich competed in five Indy 500 races when they were part of the Formula One...
Hanks Fred Agabashian Report 1953 32 BillVukovich Art Cross Sam Hanks BillVukovich Report 1954 34 BillVukovich Jimmy Bryan Jack McGrath Jack McGrath...
†- During time trials, BillVukovich II turned his first lap at 185.797 mph (299.011 km/h), to set the one-lap track record, and was the first driver...
701 km/h). Tom Bagley spun and crashed in turn 3, but he was uninjured. BillVukovich blew his engine. A total of 31 of the 33 qualified cars took laps. Later...
running, just two on the lead lap. Gordon Johncock was leading and BillVukovich II had climbed all the way up to second position. Track officials began...
fractures include Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger; IndyCar drivers BillVukovich Sr., Tony Bettenhausen Sr., Floyd Roberts, and Scott Brayton; NASCAR...
Vukovich is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Bernice Carr Vukovich (born 1938), South African tennis player BillVukovich (1918–1955)...
Pennsylvania. May 29, 1926. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. "Bill Spence killed as auto hits turn". The Indianapolis News. May 30, 1929. Archived...
scavenger pump. Of the 33 cars thus qualified, 31 took practice laps. BillVukovich II and Dana Carter were assigned as the alternates, and both took practice...
finished 29th after being involved in an accident that killed driver BillVukovich. In a dozen starts, his best race was in 1958, when he led 18 laps and...
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