Bill Vukovich
 |
|
| Born | December 13, 1918 |
|---|---|
| Died | May 30, 1955 (aged 36) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Active years | 1950–1955 |
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft, Trevis, Rounds Rocket, Maserati |
| 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, Sr. (/ˈvjuːkəvɪtʃ/; Serbian: Bil Vuković, Бил Вуковић; December 13, 1918 – May 30, 1955) was a Serbian American automobile racing driver. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500 plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races. Several drivers of his generation have referred to Vukovich as the greatest ever encountered in American motorsport.
He was known variously as "Vuky" (/ˈvuːki/ VOO-kee) and "The Mad Russian" (though he detested that name, having been born in Fresno, California, of Yugoslavian ancestry) for his intense driving style, as well as the "Silent Serb" for his cool demeanor. He was also referred to as the "Fresno Flash" in Floyd Clymer's Indy yearbooks, and in an interview (available at the Vukovich Accident link below) his former mechanic Jim Travers calls him "Vuke".
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. He won the 1950 AAA National Midget championship. Vukovich was known for racing midgets powered by Drake engines. The Drake was a Harley V-twin with specially built Drake water cooled heads. His 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 Vukovich drove a "Frame Rail" midget that was also powered by a Drake engine.
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