Bill Vukovich

Bill Vukovich (December 13, 1918 - May 30, 1955): An American racing driver from Fresno, California, Vukovich was one of the greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. He won the race consecutively in 1953 and 1954, and was leading the 1955 edition when he was killed in a multi-car crash. Vukovich participated in five Formula One World Championship races (all Indianapolis 500s) between 1951 and 1955, achieving two victories and one third-place finish. Known as "The Mad Russian" despite being of Serbian descent, Vukovich had a reputation for being quiet and focused, letting his exceptional driving speak for itself.

His smooth, precise driving style and ability to preserve his equipment over 500 miles made him nearly unbeatable at Indianapolis. His tragic death while leading the 1955 Indy 500 robbed motorsport of one of its greatest talents.