Bill Holland

Willard Saulsbury Holland (18 December 1907, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 20 May 1984) was an American racing driver whose phenomenal record at the Indianapolis 500 defines his motorsport legacy. Holland participated in two Formula One World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis (1950 and 1953), as the Indianapolis 500 was part of the F1 calendar from 1950-1960, finishing in the top three once and scoring six championship points. Holland compiled an astonishing record in his first four Indianapolis 500 starts, never finishing lower than second place. In 1947, as a rookie, Holland nearly won the race but slowed seven laps from the end, mistakenly believing teammate Mauri Rose was a lap down when he was actually racing for position.

Holland allowed Rose to pass, costing himself victory. He finished second again in 1948 to Rose. Holland's breakthrough came in 1949 when he dominated the race, winning by more than five miles and establishing a then-record average speed of 121.327 mph. Late in the race, teammate Mauri Rose began closing on Holland, but Rose's magneto failed with eight laps remaining, allowing Holland to cruise to his deserved victory.

He finished second once more in 1950, again to his teammate. Holland returned in 1954 and 1955, leading both races but never capturing a second Indianapolis victory. Beyond Indianapolis, Holland was runner-up in the 1947 American Automobile Association (AAA) National Championship and won an astonishing 53 sprint car feature races from 1937 through 1953, including 16 victories in 1946 alone. Holland was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in November 1983 and died from complications of the disease on 20 May 1984, leaving behind a legacy as one of Indianapolis' greatest drivers.