Invoice Vukovich II, the 1968 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Yr and a member of one of many race’s most distinguished households, died on August 20. He was 79.

Vukovich was the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Invoice Vukovich and the daddy of fellow Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Yr Billy Vukovich III. The Vukovichs had been one among solely 5 households to have three generations of drivers compete in “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” becoming a member of the Unsers, Andrettis, Foyts and Brabhams.

The California native made 12 begins within the 500 between 1968-80, with six top-10 finishes. His finest outcome was second within the rain-shortened race in 1973, driving the No. 2 Sugaripe Prune Eagle/Offy fielded by Jerry O’Connell.

That outcome began a three-year stretch of excellence on the Speedway for Vukovich, who completed third in 1974 and sixth in 1975. His finest qualifying effort additionally got here in 1975, when he began eighth within the No. 6 Cobre Tire Eagle/Offy fielded by Fletcher Racing.

In 1968, Vukovich certified twenty third and steadily climbed to complete seventh as a rookie driving the No. 98 Wagner-Lockheed Shrike/Offy fielded by fellow Californian J.C. Agajanian. That efficiency earned Vukovich the Rookie of the Yr award.

Vukovich additionally was a longtime standout IndyCar Sequence driver, with 158 profession begins and 85 top-10 finishes between 1965-82. His sole profession victory got here Sept. 16, 1973, at Michigan Worldwide Speedway in a 125-mile race that was the primary occasion of a doubleheader that day. His finest season got here in 1972, when he completed second within the USAC Champ Automotive standings behind Joe Leonard.

The versatile Vukovich additionally was a star on quick tracks throughout America. He earned 23 USAC Nationwide Midget victories throughout his profession, racing for such premier staff house owners as J.C. Agajanian.

That success led to Vukovich being enshrined into the Nationwide Midget Auto Racing Corridor of Fame in 1998, becoming a member of his father. All three Vukovichs are also enshrined within the Fresno Athletic Corridor of Fame, as all of them referred to as the California metropolis their hometown.

Motorsports introduced Vukovich a lot acclaim, however the sport additionally took a tragic toll on his household. His father, Invoice Vukovich, died from accidents suffered in an accident whereas main the 1955 Indianapolis 500 as he was attempting to win the race for an unprecedented third consecutive 12 months. Invoice Vukovich II’s son, 1988 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Yr Billy Vukovich III, additionally suffered deadly accidents throughout follow for a dash automotive race in November 1990 at Bakersfield, California.