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Billy Vukovich III

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American racing driver
Billy Vukovich III
BornWilliam John Vukovich III
(1963-08-31)August 31, 1963
Fresno, California, United States
DiedNovember 25, 1990(1990-11-25) (aged 27)
Bakersfield, California, United States
Cause of deathRacing accident
NationalityUnited States American
RelativesBill Vukovich (grandfather)
Bill Vukovich II (father)

William John Vukovich III (August 31, 1963 – November 25, 1990) was an American race car driver. He was a three-time starter of the Indianapolis 500. The grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich and the son of Bill Vukovich II, Vukovich III was the 1988 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Billy Vukovich III was killed in practice for a CRA race at Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, California, when his throttle stuck open which caused his car to swerve into the wall. He was 27 years old.

Vukovich became the first third-generation driver to qualify in Indy 500 history. His grandfather was killed while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500.

He got his start in racing driving for the John Runjavac racing team.

Motorsports career results

American open–wheel results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

CART/Indy Car

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rank Points Ref
1988 Gohr Racing PHX
11 		LBH INDY
14 		MIL POR CLE TOR MEA MIS
17 		POC
9 		MDO ROA NAZ LAG MIA 30th 6
1989 Hemelgarn Racing PHX LBH INDY
12 		MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS POC MDO ROA NAZ LAG 34th 1
1990 Hemelgarn Racing PHX LBH INDY
24 		MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS
13 		DEN VAN MDO ROA NAZ LAG 34th 0

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1988 56 23 208.545 20 14 179 0 Flagged
1989 81 30 216.698 13 12 186 0 Flagged
1990 81 31 211.389 32 24 102 0 Engine
Totals 467 0
Starts 3
Poles 0
Front Row 0
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 0
Retired 1

References

  1. Glick, Shav (November 26, 1990). "Vukovich, 27, Is Killed in Crash at Bakersfield : Motor racing: Three-time Indy 500 starter and the only third-generation Indy 500 driver dies while warming up car before CRA event". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  2. "Billy Vukovich III – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  3. "Billy Vukovich III – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  4. "Billy Vukovich III – 1990 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
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Sporting positions
Preceded byFabrizio Barbazza Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year
1988 		Succeeded byBernard Jourdain
Scott Pruett
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