Уильям Вукович: Индианаполис 500 чемпионы және американдық моторспорттың көшбасшысы

American racing driver (1918–1955)

William John "Bill" Vukovich ('/v//juː//k//ə//v//ɪ//tʃ/; 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. 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.

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.

In 1952, his second year in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 500 Mile Race, he quickly moved up from his starting position in the middle of the third row to take the lead, and led 150 laps in dominant fashion before suffering steering failure on the 192nd of the 200 laps. He returned to win the race in consecutive years, 1953 and 1954. He led an astounding 71.7% of laps that he drove in competition at the track, and remains the only driver ever to lead the most laps in the race three consecutive years. 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. Roberts' car was also thrown over the backstretch fence after exiting the second turn in his fatal accident. Since the 1955 race was counted as part of the Formula One World Championship, Vukovich is also the first driver to be killed during a World Championship race.

His son, Bill Vukovich II, and his grandson, Bill Vukovich III, also competed in the Indianapolis 500, with Vukovich II taking second in 1973, and Vukovich III being named Rookie of the Year in 1988. Vukovich III died on November 25, 1990, in a crash during practice for a CRA race at Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, California.

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Points 1950 INDYDNQ MIL LAN SPR MIL PIK SYR DET SPR SAC PHX BAY DAR 0 1951 INDY29 MIL LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ7 DUQDNQ PIK SYR3 DET7 DNC11 SJS18 PHX BAY 23rd 291.8 1952 INDY17 MILDNQ RAL24 SPRDNQ MIL DET1 DUQ3 PIK SYR14 DNC1 SJS14 PHX8 12th 590 1953 INDY1 MIL SPR DET SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SACDNQ PHX 3rd 1,000 1954 INDY1 MIL22 LAN DAR SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX LVG 4th 1,000 1955 INDY25 MIL LAN SPR MIL DUQ PIK SYR ISF SAC PHX 0

YearCarStartQualRankFinishLapsLedRetired195010 – – – – – – Did not qualify195181 20 133.725 16 29 29 Oil tank195226 8 138.212 2 17 191 150 Steering1953141138.3921 1st200 195 Running195414 19 138.478 15 1st200 90 Running19554 5 141.071 3 25 56 50 Fatal accidentTotals 676 485 Starts5Poles1Front Row1Wins2Top 52Top 102Retired3