Bill Vukovich Fatal Accident in the 1955 Indy 500

[TFritz82]

RIP Mad Russian.

[SerbianBld]

Hello everyone. I am Jordan Vuckovich. I don't know my exact relation to Billy, but everyone calls me Vucky to so that kinda struck me how that nickname started way way back.

[JettRink50]

I met his son Billy and he was very nice to me. But to lose your father and your son

to racing must have been too much for him. Apparently Mr. Vukovich was a very interesting character. I don't recall now if one of his winning cars is in the Indy Museum or not.

[TOXICMONKEYLOVE]

SInce I was 13 years old, I've watched the Indy 500 (on TV) for 37 years and I have never heard them ever tell, who won the 1955 indy 500.. interesting how history goes down in the book. The reason I bring this up is that the winner happen to be my uncle, never met the man, he died before I was born.

[Ssmlt3]

@TOXICMONKEYLOVE Well, they finally said it today during the qualifying rain delay. Bob Jenkins was asked what his favorite car was in the Indy museum, and he said it was Bob Sweikert's pink car. 

[altfactor]

Vukovich was looking to become the first driver ever to win three consecutive Indianapaolis "500"'s (he had won in 1953 and 1954).

Although I wan't born yet, I thought Vukovich was actually in the lead at the time of this crash.

[raichiotto]

1955 was not a good year for motor racing...

[penske369]

Am i correct in stating that Vuky did NOT hit the bridge? I had always heard he did and thats what killed him.

[16119890]

his real name was vaso vucurovic ;)

[nandosonda]

Foram as melhores corridas, mas as mais sangrentaa!!!!!

[zoilo92]

@nandosonda ??????????????????????????????­??'

[VanHoorelbeke]

With any luck Vucky could have one Indy 4 in a row

[AlexDeLarge90]

sadly luck usually ran out for the drivers' of the 50's and 60's

there was 1 chance in 3 a driver would not make it alive through his career

[silentman510]

No....

[adriano26nbm]

Tudo em ingles ou é outra lingua sei nnão

não entendo nada.

[TiagoWakabayashi]

Porra é ingles ¬¬

[zunamy601]

aprende ingles brasilero pelotudo!!!

[zoilo92]

@zunamy601 Viva argentina carajo

[nandosonda]

@zunamy601 finca no cu essas pelotas hehehehe

[bobmilky]

damn the track doesnt even look simuler today compared to that footage.

[mybizuk]

So he was the guy who cartwheeled in the spectator section? was he not thrown clear of the car?

[mybizuk]

Which car did the poor driver die in? how many died?

[muppet6789]

the guy furthest on the right on the first shot after the first person hit the wall the guy on the inside swerved to avoid him and collected the middle driver and vukovich who unfortunately went over the barrier and did some horrific cartwheels before landing upside down :(

[Lucruza]

Watch out, spectators!

[10glenn10]

I doubt this will make much difference, but can those users who insist on daily posting of inappropriate comments linking to inappropriate websites please refrain from doing this and show a bit of respect for a fallen hero?

Thank you.

[woodymcruk]

agreed i see this to often,immature people making innapropriate jokes or links ,

r.i.p all lost

[chumpychumpychump]

@10glenn10

Hero? I see no hero here– just foolhardy men driving too fast for no reason.

[rognoncru]

Hmmm, Pre-crumple zone technology

[commandro]

the cars were tumbling like solid rocks, that was also the reason why they were so unsafe

[olarcial]

Those cars were real coffins on those days. And Indy were even a better and securetrack than most european tracks.

[1more4theroad]

It is good to read all of your comments. I enjoyed the Indy with my father, who went pretty much every year from 1957 onward until his own passing. He told me of these great drivers, what a wonderful heritage this track has in all of its drivers! Oh how we cheered on Vuky III until the family curse struck and killed him at age 27.

[10glenn10]

I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed reading the comments - I have found it necessary to delete some inappropriate ones, but I'm glad of the respectful nature of most of these comments towards this brilliant man

[1more4theroad]

Yes, much disrespect shown on here but not so much this thread. We really cheered on Vuky III at the '89 Indy only to learn later how he was killed in Nov. 1990. Damn that family curse. He was a crowd favorite at Indy - with everyone pulling for the whole family through him. Thanks again!

[Zoomer30]

That is one big thing about those old cars, they did not come apart in a crash, so all that force is put on the driver. One big reason a lot of them died.

[daallo1]

Rest in peace, one of the best drivers ever

[swspoiler3]

this is nasty. crash helmets were like paper thin. no protection at all. died of a severe frature of the skull.

[Brando997]

Ouch. Pretty Violent.

[ballsthatclank]

A good driver killed by a bunch of morons.

[brtaylor20]

Not sure where you're coming from with that comment. The accident started with mechanical failure in Rodger Ward's car and Vuky was caught up in the chain reaction. He had to pick a direction to get around and picked the wrong one. Check the facts before posting.

Balls that clank? Brains that clank is more like it.

[Buglebill]

Vuki's dream was to win this race and retire from this dangerous sport, using his winnings to open his own garage back in California. He had the lead when disaster struck. He also had a dreadful premonition prior to the race that something terrible was going to happen.

I was 10 years old listening to this race on the radio when I learned that my favorite driver was killed.I wanted to throw up.

[DE3fan4life]

my dad loved him when he was a kid and he's read like 3 books about him to me, he was a tough but humble man. after his first win @ indy and after he lapped the feild 3 times except for the 3rd & 2nd place drivers he told the media they should make the race 1000 miles because its too easy.... R.I.P. VUKI 1955