William “Bill” Vukovich was an American racing legend whose short but blazing career left an indelible mark on motorsport history. Known for his raw determination and almost superhuman focus behind the wheel, Vukovich captured back-to-back victories at the Indianapolis 500 in 1953 and 1954, won two additional American Automobile Association (AAA) National Championship races, and tragically lost his life while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500.
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Born | Vaso Vukovich 13 December 1918 Alameda, California, U.S. |
| Died | 30 May 1955 (aged 36) Speedway, Indiana, U.S. |
Among his peers, Vukovich’s reputation bordered on myth. Fellow drivers of the era have often praised him as the greatest American racer of all time. His domination at Indianapolis was unmatched. He remains the only driver to have led the most laps in three consecutive Indy 500s, a record that has withstood generations of challengers.
Dominance at Indianapolis
When Vukovich rolled into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1952 for his second attempt at the 500, he wasted no time making his presence known. Starting mid-pack, he sliced through the field and led a commanding 150 laps before a steering failure ended his run just eight laps shy of victory. The following two years, he returned with a vengeance, conquering the Brickyard in both 1953 and 1954.
His precision, pace, and nerve were breathtaking. Vukovich led an incredible 71.7% of all laps he completed at Indy. To this day, no one else has dominated the race so completely across three consecutive years. His 1953 and 1954 winning cars remain a symbol of sheer mechanical and human excellence.
The World Championship Connection
From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 was officially part of the FIA World Drivers’ Championship, the same championship that crowned Formula One world champions.
Across five World Championship-counting starts at Indianapolis, Vukovich started from pole once, won twice, set three fastest laps, and earned a total of 19 World Drivers’ Championship points, numbers that would have made him a contender had he competed full-time in Europe’s Grand Prix calendar races.
The 1955 Tragedy
Vukovich’s final race remains one of motorsport’s most haunting moments. On lap 57 of the 1955 Indianapolis 500, he was leading by a commanding 17 seconds when disaster struck. Exiting Turn 2, he approached a cluster of slower cars driven by Rodger Ward, Al Keller, and Johnny Boyd. Ward’s car suddenly broke an axle, slammed into the outer wall, and flipped onto the track. Keller swerved into the infield to avoid him but lost control, sliding back into Boyd and sending Boyd’s car directly into Vukovich’s path.
Vukovich’s car was launched over the outer wall, cartwheeled through the air before crashing down on a row of parked cars. It burst into flames, and though fellow driver Ed Elisian stopped and rushed to help, Vukovich was killed instantly. Two spectators were also injured when his car struck their Jeep.
He became the second defending Indy 500 champion to die during the race, after Floyd Roberts in 1939, and remains the only former winner ever killed while leading. Because the 1955 Indy 500 counted toward the Formula One World Championship, Vukovich also holds the sombre distinction of being the first F1 driver to die in a World Championship race.
Formula One History Recommends
Bill Vukovich was laid to rest at Belmont Memorial Park in his hometown of Fresno, California. To honour his extraordinary talent and character, the Fresno Junior Chamber of Commerce established the Billy Vukovich Memorial Scholarship Fund, supporting students at Fresno State College preparing to teach automotive mechanics.
Bill Vukovich Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 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 |
Bill Vukovich Teammates
| 1 driver | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Banks | 1 | 1950 |
Bill Vukovich Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Indianapolis Race Cars | Maserati 8CTF | Maserati 3.0 L8 s | GBR | MON | 500 DNQ | SUI | BEL | FRA | ITA | NC | 0 | ||
| 1951 | Central Excavating | Trevis | Offenhauser 4.5 L4 | SUI | 500 29 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | ESP | NC | 0 | |
| 1952 | Fuel Injection | Kurtis Kraft KK500A | Offenhauser 4.5 L4 | SUI | 500 17 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | NED | ITA | 22nd | 1 | |
| 1953 | Fuel Injection | Kurtis Kraft KK500A | Offenhauser 4.5 L4 | ARG | 500 1 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | 7th | 9 |
| 1954 | Fuel Injection | Kurtis Kraft KK500A | Offenhauser 4.5 L4 | ARG | 500 1 | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA | ESP | 6th | 8 |
| 1955 | Hopkins | Kurtis Kraft KK500C | Offenhauser 4.5 L4 | ARG | MON | 500 25 | BEL | NED | GBR | ITA | 25th | 1 |
