Bill Vukovich II

William John Vukovich Jr. (March 29, 1944 – August 20, 2023) was an American driver in the championship car division of USAC and the CART series.

Career Vukovich was named the 1968 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, a result of his seventh-place finish. Vukovich raced in the 1965–1982 seasons, with 158 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1968–1977, 1979–1980. He finished in the top-ten 85 times, with one victory in 1973 at Michigan. His best finish at the Indianapolis 500 came in 1973, where he finished second in a rain-shortened, tragedy-marred event.

Vukovich also had 23 National midget car victories in his career, and drove for part of his career in J. C. Agajanian's midget car.

Personal life and death Vukovich was the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich and the father of Billy Vukovich III, both of whom were killed in racing accidents. Vukovich and his wife, Joyce, were married for 60 years. Vukovich died on August 20, 2023, at the age of 79.

Award Vukovich was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998.

Complete USAC Championship Car results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Pos Points 1965 PHX TRE INDY MIL LAN PPR TRE IRP ATL LAN MIL ISF MIL DSF INF TRE SAC PHX 37th 80 1967 PHX TRE INDY MIL LAN PIP MOS MOS IRP LAN23 MTR23 MTR11 SPR6 MIL16 DUQ5 ISF4 TRE13 SAC17 HAN26 PHXDNQ RIV7 15th 470 1968 HAN26 LVG6 PHX19 TRE5 INDY7 MIL13 MOS9 MOS7 LAN14 PIP CDR9 NAZ3 IRP13 IRP6 LAN6 LAN4 MTR MTR SPR4 MIL7 DUQ3 ISF5 TRE6 SAC16 MCH19 HAN6 PHX4 RIV7 5th 2,410 1969 PHX4 HAN8 INDY32 MIL17 LAN4 PIP CDR19 NAZ13 TRE6 IRP22 IRP MIL5 SPR3 DOV DUQ4 ISF14 BRNDNQ BRN TRE24 SAC13 KEN9 KEN17 PHX6 RIV27 8th 1,280 1970 PHX SON TRE INDY23 MIL13 LAN CDR MCH IRP SPR MIL ONTDNQ DUQ ISF SED TRE SAC PHX 32nd 200 1971 RAF RAF PHX TRE25 INDY5 MIL3 POC5 MCH2 MIL14 ONT10 TRE4 PHX3 3rd 2.250 1972 PHX20 TRE18 INDY28 MIL4 MCH11 POC4 MIL2 ONT3 TRE4 PHX15 2nd 2.200 1973 TWS15 TRE3 TRE2 INDY2 MIL22 POC24 MCH3 MIL3 ONT12 ONT ONT24 MCH1 MCH15 TRE6 TWS20 PHX3 4th 2.440 1974 ONT10 ONT ONT21 PHX8 TRE3 INDY3 MIL3 POC8 MCH5 MIL10 MCH19 TRE18 TRE PHX6 6th 1,925 1975 ONT ONT4 ONT23 PHX4 TRE INDY6 MIL7 POC3 MCH3 MIL8 MCH11 TRE PHX4 5th 2.080 1976 PHXDNQ TRE22 INDY31 MIL6 POC26 MCH TWS6 TRE8 MIL15 ONT24 MCH TWS5 PHX6 14th 660 1977 ONT20 PHX19 TWS TRE13 INDY17 MILPOC9 MOS12 MCH14 TWS MIL ONT31 MCH PHX 27th 220 1978 PHX ONT TWS TRE INDYDNQ MOS MIL POC28 MCH ATL TWS MIL ONT26 MCH TRE SIL BRH PHX 40th 20 1979 ONT3 TWS6 INDY8 MIL2 POC6 TWS6 MIL3 2nd 1,770 1980 ONT INDY12 MIL21 POC28 MOH 29th 65 1981-82 INDYDNQ POC6 ILL17 DUQ ISF6 INDYDNQ 13th 568 1982-83 SPR DUQ NAZ INDYDNQ-0 1983-84 DUQ12 INDYDNP 19th 20

Complete PPG Indy Car Series results

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts Ref 1979 Leader Card Racing PHX ATL ATL INDY8 TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX-0 1980 Leader Card Racing ONT INDY MIL POC MOH MCH WGL MIL ONT MCH MEX PHX 37th 96 1981 Rattlesnake Racing PHX MIL ATL ATL MCH RIV MIL MCH WGL MEX PHX 33rd 6 1982 PHX ATL MIL CLE MCH MIL POC RIV ROA MCH PHX 41st 2 1983 ATL INDYDNQ MIL CLE MCH ROA POC RIV MOH MCH CPL LAG PHX-0 1984 LBH PHX INDYDNQ MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH SAN MCH PHX LAG CPL-0

Indianapolis 500 results Year Chassis Engine Start Finish 1968 Shrike Offy 23rd 7th 1969 Laycock Offy 26th 32nd 1970 Brabham Offy 30th 23rd 1971 Brabham Offy 11th 5th 1972 Eagle Offy 18th 28th 1973 Eagle Offy 16th 2nd 1974 Eagle Offy 16th 3rd 1975 Eagle Offy 8th 6th 1976 Eagle Offy 9th 31st 1977 Coyote Foyt 23rd 17th 1978 Eagle Offy Failed to Qualify 1979 Watson Offy 34th 8th 1980 Watson Offy 30th 12th 1981 Watson Offy Failed to Qualify 1982 Lightning Cosworth Failed to Qualify 1983 Eagle Chevrolet Failed to Qualify