37 Facts About Bill Vukovich

Bill Vukovich won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500, plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races, and died while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500.

Bill Vukovich 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.

Bill Vukovich was the fifth of eight children and the youngest of three sons born to John Vucurovich, a carpenter and police officer, and Mildred.

Bill Vukovich's parents emigrated from Serbia, and Anglicized their surname from "Vucurovic" to Vucurovich to aid its pronunciation.

Later, upon suggestion of the judge presiding over their naturalization, the couple adopted the spelling Bill Vukovich, using it for their children.

Bill Vukovich was christened with the given name Vaso, not adopting the English variant William until entering public school.

The family earned modest income, and on one occasion Bill Vukovich was hired out as a cotton picker to earn supplemental income.

The death of Bill Vukovich's father increased the family's financial difficulties, and they were forced to leave the property a few days after the funeral.

Bill Vukovich enjoyed attending school, doing well in industrial arts courses.

Bill Vukovich continued in this role after the early beginnings of his racing career.

Bill Vukovich's schedule saw him work on farms during the day, travel to the hospital to spend evenings conversing with his mother in Serbian until visiting hours were up, then spend late night hours working on his race car.

Bill Vukovich displayed an interest in speed at an early age.

The activity was ended when Bill Vukovich suffered a sprained wrist after reaching out in an attempt to prevent another roll-over.

Bill Vukovich had the car hauled home, and with the help of his brothers and younger sister, Ann, eventually got it running again.

Bill Vukovich eventually began asking for chances to drive, and being turned away repeatedly.

In 1936, at age 17, Bill Vukovich was allowed to drive a Chevrolet-powered track roadster owned by future Indianapolis car builder Fred Gerhardt.

The opportunity was granted after Bill Vukovich appeared at Gerhardt's shop over several days, repeatedly asking to drive the latter's car.

The week after Bill Vukovich again made the feature, finishing third, and on his fourth week, Bill Vukovich won the main event.

Bill Vukovich won regularly after his initial victory, competing at tracks in Newton, Chowchilla, and Goshen.

Vukovich's brothers hid extent of the injuries from their mother, explaining that Bill was staying to be closer to some other races.

Bill Vukovich raced on the West Coast of the United States in the United Racing Association, and won the series' 1945 and 1946 midget car championships.

Bill 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.

Bill Vukovich was known for racing midgets powered by Drake engines.

Bill Vukovich's last Drake powered midget was a Kurtis Kraft that was built by Ed and Zeke Justice, the Justice Brothers, in their shop in Glendale from a Kurtis kit.

Previous to this car, Bill Vukovich drove a "Frame Rail" midget that was powered by a Drake engine.

Bill Vukovich returned to win the race in consecutive years, 1953 and 1954.

Bill Vukovich participated in five World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis.

Bill Vukovich started on the pole once, won twice, recorded three fastest laps, and accumulated 19 World Drivers' Championship points.

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

Two spectators were injured when Bill Vukovich's car landed on their Jeep.

Bill Vukovich was the second defending Indy 500 champion to die during the race, following Floyd Roberts in 1939, and the only former winner to have been killed while leading.

Since the 1955 race was counted as part of the Formula One World Championship, Bill Vukovich is the first driver to be killed during a World Championship race.

Bill Vukovich is buried at Belmont Memorial Park, Fresno, California.

Bill Vukovich married Esther Schmidt, the two meeting during a blind date several months previously.

Bill Vukovich was shy, and the couple's early courtship saw him use Esther's younger sister as a go-between when setting up dates.

Bill Vukovich III died on November 25,1990, in a crash during practice for a CRA race at Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, California.

Bill Vukovich has been inducted into the following halls of fame:.