Bill Holland

Willard Saulsbury Holland (December 18, 1907 – May 20, 1984) was an American racing driver from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1949 and finished second in 1947, 1948, and 1950. He was runner-up in the 1947 American Automobile Association (AAA) National Championship.

Background

Holland was born on December 18, 1907, the son of fireman and former professional baseball player Willard Holland. He was excellent at skating and tried out for the 1932 Olympics. No racing happened in the United States between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II. and scored six World Drivers' Championship points.

Life after racing and death

Holland and his wife Myra ran skating rinks in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They lived briefly in Colorado Springs, Colorado before moving to Tucson, Arizona in the early 1970s. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (2005)

In addition, the inaugural USAC Silver Crown Series race held at Selinsgrove Speedway was named the Bill Holland Classic. The race was 74 laps long as it was the 74th year after Holland's victory opened the track. Holland did not compete in any championship car events, however, he competed in no less than 41 "big car" events, winning 17. These efforts enabled Holland to finish the anomalous 1946 season ranked fourth in points.

Although Holland started the 1947 race from the middle of the third row, he posted the fastest qualifying time.

FIA World Drivers' Championship results

(key) Year Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pts 1950 Diedt Offenhauser GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA 7th 6 1953 Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0