Twelve-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bill Vukovich II died on Sunday. He was 79 years old.
Vukovich was the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich and the father of fellow Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Billy Vukovich III, as the Vukovichs were one of only five families to have three generations of drivers compete in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, joining the Unsers, Andrettis, Foyts and Brabhams.
California native Vukovich made 12 starts in the Indy 500 between 1968-80, with six top-10 finishes. His best result was second in the rain-shortened race in 1973, driving the No. 2 Sugaripe Prune Eagle/Offy fielded by Jerry O’Connell.
His lone Indy car victory came at Michigan Int’l Speedway in 1973.
Vukovich won 23 USAC midget features during his career and was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998.
Vukovich’s father won the 1953 and ’54 Indianapolis 500 and was killed in a crash while leading the race in 1955.
Vukovich’s son, Billy Vukovich III, was also a racer and he was killed in a crash at California’s Mesa Marin Raceway in 1990.