A documentary on Bill Vukovich who rose to legendary fame at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This one is from the Peabody Award winning series SportsCentury on ESPN.
To this day, Bill Vukovich is the only driver to lead the most laps in the Indianapolis 500 three straight years. In his 5 years of running the 500 he led 485 laps of which he led none his first year which equates to him leading an astounding 71.1% of the laps he ran in his short career there. The year he was killed he led 50 of the 56 laps he completed. I grew up in Fresno and this was a beautiful tribute to him. My parents and brother are buried in the same cemetary as Bill and Billy III and whenever I visit them I always make a side trip to also pay my respects to Bill Vukovich and Billy III. My heart goes out to Bill Jr and all his siblings. Rest in Peace Bill and Billy III.
I'm 63 & have followed IndyCar since 66.I knew Bill was great but didn't know how much of a legend he was.this accident reminds me a little of the Jeff krosnoff wreck in toronto.horrific accident.
As a very young girl I loved watching racing and loved dreaming of being a racer. Never did that but loved speed. I remember watching the Unsers, A. J. Foyt, Mark Donahue, the Allison’s, Billy Vukovich, Jr. and all the 1960s-1970s drivers at Indy, and also loved watching international racing. Now that I am older, I love learning about not only the accomplishments, but also the personal lives of the drivers. Thank you for putting this on your channel.
So many things that I had not known about the late, great "Vucky". What a man on a mission! He was a natural born race driver who's only goal was to win and prove to the world: 'If I can make it well...So can you!" His talent in this open wheel auto racing sport was literally second to none. All those fantastic races - small and large, meant something for him and his family honor. His being brought up under harsh discipline from his father must have made him in a great deal what he was - a determined man. Decades ago, I had a junior high/senior high school friend who, if my memory serves me right, was a true Bill Vukovich fan. My auto racing hero at that time (and still is) was Jimmy Clark of Scotland. But...there was something quite unique about "Vucky" to him, my friend Bruce. He liked a few others in the speed of sport. Jimmy Bryan was one of his all-time favorites but Bill Vukovich, Sr. ... now there was a man to look up to. When tragedy struck down Bill at the 1955 Indy classic...there went a very possible winner of three in a row wins at Indy. One record that would still stand even today (2020). I wish that had happened. Think of all the Indy records that would literally shake somewhat in all the drivers attempts to win Indy all these many many years. What a guy was Bill Vukovich!
His still holds the record of being the only driver to lead the most laps in the 500 three straight years....and would've been four if not for his accident in '55. He had led 50 of the 56 laps he completed when he lost his life.
happy thanksgiving mr vukovich. i want to break the age barrier at indy and the fairgrounds. i love your family and fans. best wishes to all .. thanks for the memories. eric stewart monroe city indiana an american trucker biker daydreamer swimmer. happy trails to all
Of every man to drive the 500 since 1911 its my belief vucky is the greatest WHAT IF in the great history of these historical grounds.. In just 1 tragic second in 1955 we'll forever ponder WHAT IF he'd have gotten 1 more second to let off and go low. His accomplishments there would've been ???????????? Omg WHAT IF ......
i have a picture of the 1955 racecar autographed by jr, it was one of my dads greatest treasures and it is still all that, and i adore it, thanks for the video, bill was my dads hero!!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing that memory. Auto racing is an amazing sport and Vuky was one of the best ever at Indianapolis. Cheers to you and your dad, and a toast to memories that transcend generational differences.
Norm im so relieved to know that there's Indy 500 fans as compassionate and loyal to the 500 and its history as much as i am... Its my Christmas and most anticipated tradition annually since 1972 as an 8 yr old fan to now as a grandfather.. May won't be the same in 2020 but August will be the king of history just this once in my lifetime
Great video...I can remember so well when I was a kid growing up in the 60s, how the Indy 500 was such an anticipated event. Even though I grew up in the South, NASCAR never had the hold on me that the 500 did and does (maybe because I read Wilbur Shaw's autobiography, Gentlemen, Start Your Engines at an early age). And there's nothing like seeing and hearing those front engine roadsters roaring by, it's still a thrill decades after the last roadster ran in the 500. I had some inkling back then of who Vukovich Sr was, but not until I was a grown man did I comprehend the greatness of Bill Vukovich and the tragedy of his loss, not just to his family, friends, and community, but to the sport of motor racing. His passing took place before I was born, but nevertheless, Godspeed and Rest in Peace, Sir!
I grew up in the South I love NASCAR back in the day I didn't really watch IndyCar but my entire family every memorial Day weekend we watch that race and then we'd watch the Coca-Cola 600. That was in the 1980s. Good memories good memories. The Indy 500 was always a tradition in my home... Probably more late 80s early 90s.
Great driver Ward was he was like Al Unser in the respect just position yourself to take advantage & you lead a lap or 20 instead of 150 but he won that way. Al Unser was the same way Mario always had the better machine but it would brake & when it did Big Al would win Ward was that way too never lead 150 laps would just position himself & take advantage of the right opportunity.
I grew up following Indy and went for the first time in 64. What I saw that day turned me off until I read Vukovich by Gates which made me realize why I was attracted, truly great men.
The Original Intimidator, and quite simply the most haunting figure in the history of American motorsports. The description by Economacki about the Vukovich-McGrath duel is surprisingly inaccurate, given that he was there to watch it himself. Vukovich didn't inherit the lead when McGrath broke, he actually outraced him head to head, despite McGrath driving the theoretically faster, hopped-up nitro-running car (legal at the time, it was only outlawed a few years later because it burned up engines as though giving the car narcotics). When McGrath started slowing due to engine trouble, Vuke was half a second to a second ahead. Nothing against McGrath, here: his strategy was legal, and it was an attempt to gain a 'fair advantage'. But we need to keep in context that many claims on Vukovich potentially being the greatest of all time was that he could truly get Everything out of a car without blowing it up, and the huge leading margins show it. If a car had ANY chance of winning, you could watch him claw his way up the scoreboard, practically a force of nature.
The "came from nowhere" thing (in the first few minutes) is not true. The "Silent Serbian" tried to qualify Wilbur Shaw's 1939- and 1940-500-winning 8CTF Maserati at Indy in 1950, and finished 29th in a Trevis Offy in '51. Before that, he'd been the 1950 AAA National Midget Champion, and the dominant midget driver on the West Coast since the end of the war (winning the 100-lap Turkey Night Grand Prix in 1948, along with many other races). In 1945 and '46, he was the URA (west coast) midget champion. He had more than a bit of an attitude, but he usually lived up to it.
Rick Mears ramains to this day my racing hero of all time but i just cant help but to think that this man wouldn't have been my real hero.. hell he is my #1 ranking of Indy 500 greatest followed by #2 R.mears #3 A.J.Foyt #4 Al Unser #5 Jim Clark
As a lil kid I fell in love with the Indy500 and Mears & AJ were my most favorites, at 6 yrs old I still remember my Gramps saying as Awesome & Great Mears,Foyt,UnserSr were, he’d say Vukavich was Just Pure Domination, Untouchable!!
Tragic death one of many but that's racing it's unforchnant that the cars weren't built like they are today it was NOT Wards fault that he died cause he could have died just hitting the wall himself on a spin out.
So many of the greats died back then. Bill's grandson, Bill the third, was killed at Mesa Marin in a sprint car. Bob Swikwert won the year Bill was killed, and was killed at Salem Speedway before the next Indy 500. It's a wonder any of those guys lived to tell the tale. AJ is one of them.
Billy III was killed while driving a Super Modified at Mesa Marin Speedway when his throttle stuck open entering turn one. Mesa Marin was a half mile oval with long straights and tight turns and was the last place you'd want a stuck throttle.
ive always wondered if Bill still remained inside the car after striking the bridge and then flying over the wall and barrel rolling and landing upside down burning as seen in the picture of where the car came to rest... any information on this by anyone or everyone would be appreciated very much..thank you
Most of the contemporary newspaper reports that I have read indicate that he was still in the car. The Indianapolis News ran a photo of fire fighters at the overturned car with a caption "Bill Vukovich lies in his overturned car as rescuers try to reach him after flames of the wreckage died down". I've never read anything stating that he was thrown clear of the car.
5 or 6 before the 50's ended and imagine him racing til 1965 or 1970 lol he'd perhaps have won 10 or even more... Damn shame we'll never get to know anything but wonder WHAT IF
Holy shit IDK his father committed suicide. Wow. Or has mother dying so early. Wow. Or that Billy 3 was killed. It's wild because as a child I remember him being an idol, along with Jim "shape 'em to fit a steering wheel" Hurtebise. I'd be like "shape 'em to fit a woman's ass" LOL but for really real these guys were fucking heroes.
Goddamn Maserati just gave me a stiffy LOL. Look at it. petrolicious.com/articles/yes-maserati-really-did-win-the-indianapolis-500-twice Boyle’s 8 CTF not only won in 1939 and 1940, Ted Horn drove it to third place in 1946 and 1947. Now known as the Bennett Brothers Special, he also took it to fourth in 1948, making this the most successful race car in Indy 500 history. As the most famous Indy car, the Boyle Special Maserati has a special place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, which is on the grounds of the Speedway.
Sorry to disagree but Indy then and until recently were open wheeled and open cockpits... It was about very brave men giving every bit of their heart and strength for the glory making the race let alone the great dream of winning and being every mans hero... Indy is about brave heroes and should never be for those not willing to give everything inside themselves...
Vukovich didn't die for lack of a roll cage, i.e. being crushed, he died due to a basal skull fracture resulting from the sheer force of the impact during the crash.
