Vuky was and still is the best! The roadster era at Indy was also the greatest period in racing. Absolutely classic in every way. Wish it was still that way. I grew up with this in Indiana in the 50s and cherish every moment of it. Great film and wonderful time capsule.
This man, the pride of Fresno, California, could have easily won the 500 4 straight times. In 1952 he was leading by a huge margin when his steering failed 9 laps from the finish and of coarse his fatal accident in 1955 while leading. He still remains the only man to lead the most number of laps in three consecutive races there. This man was the OG Shooting Star. They ought to make a movie about his life. RIP Bill Vukovich
If Bill Vukovich Sr. had survived and won the 1955 Indianapolis "500", he, and not A.J. Foyt would today be considered the greatest race car driver who ever lived.
I found a manuscript of a biography of Vukovich written in the 1950s. For some reason it was never published. I am editing it and will publish it for release in the spring. It will be called Vukovich: The Man Who Wouldn’t Lift. Author is Angelo Angelopolous.
As FIA considered Indy 500 from 1950-1960 as an F1 race, this is technically a full highlights of a Formula 1 race. Hopefully F1 channel won't block it for copyright
He entered a total of 6 World Championship events, starting in 5 with one pole position, two wins, three most laps led and fastest laps scoring 19 points and finishing 7th in 1953 and 6th in 1954 for the F-1 world's driving title.
Bryan, # 9, had a broken rear spring and shock which resulted in him being beaten to near death. When he stopped in the pits after the race, he passed out. Bryan had to spend several days in the hospital after the race to recover.
The track was paved with bricks still! Seat belts added for safety. But no roll bars? No wonder the driver died all the time. Really great film! I love the Speedway. The history can only rival the Churchill Downhill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Shawn
If you were there, watching that race @ 138mph, it would be just as exciting as 230mph like now. If you were to get in one of those "slow old cars", & hit the gas, it would scare the heck out of you.
I have no doubt Vuky would have won in 1955 if not for the fatal crash and assuming his car would have no problems. Love how the stands are so simple back then. Roll bars were not mandated until 1959. With the driver's head a foot or so above the cockpit they didn't have much of a chance in a rollover. Of those who finished in the top 10, four were dead by the end of calendar year, 1955, two being killed at Langhorne, PA where Jimmy Bryan also died (in 1960)
The survival rate for drivers in that period of time, was 1 in 3. That’s right. A 1 in 3 chance you would survive...a 2 of 3 chance of not making it until the end of your career. These guys would be losing friends on the average of once a month.
I think there was a stat somewhere where it said 11 of the 35 drivers that drove in the 1951 Indy 500 died within the next four years and almost all of them were automobile accident related
Formula 1 drivers (Jackie Stewart for one) in the 1970s boycotted for more safety, they were crashing and dying and no one organizing the events seemed to care.. The organizers were either too cheap or actually thought that was part of the game- like bull fights, someone has to die. To change things would be "bad optics" in today's parlance. Win (or die) on Sunday, sell on Monday. The manufacturers of normal production cars for the public fought seat belts and every other safety measure including the ones that protect people not even driving (air pollution still from vehicles still no 1 cause of pollution). Death and pollution no longer desired features to advertise.
1954 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Won 🏁🏎️🥛🏆 By Bill Vukovick Who Stared In 19th Place.😎 The Pole Sitter Jack McGrath Would Finsh In 3rd Place. 1 Minute 19.73 Seconds Behind Billy Vukovich. Billy Vukovick Won 🏆🏎️🥛🏆In 3 Hours 49 Minutes And 17.27 Seconds!🏁🏎️🥛🏆🏆 It Was Billy Vukovich's 2nd Straight Victory At Indianapolis.🏆🏆😎 I Am Typing This At 10:52 a.m. , Monday Morning 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , May 13 , 2024.😎😎🤓🙂☺️
Notice not many overweight people back in the 50's look at us now, factory farming took over america in the 60's money became more important then our health "You reap what you Sow"
@@healthyone100 I never set foot in a McDonalds until 1981 when I was 25 and to this day their menu was never on my favorites list. But you're right the obesity and upset stomach trains started with them.
Vuky was and still is the best! The roadster era at Indy was also the greatest period in racing. Absolutely classic in every way. Wish it was still that way. I grew up with this in Indiana in the 50s and cherish every moment of it. Great film and wonderful time capsule.
This man, the pride of Fresno, California, could have easily won the 500 4 straight times. In 1952 he was leading by a huge margin when his steering failed 9 laps from the finish and of coarse his fatal accident in 1955 while leading. He still remains the only man to lead the most number of laps in three consecutive races there. This man was the OG Shooting Star. They ought to make a movie about his life. RIP Bill Vukovich
If Bill Vukovich Sr. had survived and won the 1955 Indianapolis "500", he, and not A.J. Foyt would today be considered the greatest race car driver who ever lived.
@@altfactor No doubt !!
I found a manuscript of a biography of Vukovich written in the 1950s. For some reason it was never published. I am editing it and will publish it for release in the spring. It will be called Vukovich: The Man Who Wouldn’t Lift. Author is Angelo Angelopolous.
That's right. There was no pit wall. Safety always took a back seat in those days. Many of these drivers never made it out of the decade. Great film.
As FIA considered Indy 500 from 1950-1960 as an F1 race, this is technically a full highlights of a Formula 1 race. Hopefully F1 channel won't block it for copyright
He entered a total of 6 World Championship events, starting in 5 with one pole position, two wins, three most laps led and fastest laps scoring 19 points and finishing 7th in 1953 and 6th in 1954 for the F-1 world's driving title.
Dream on..
So if they considered Canada Mexico ........
Who cares what they considered...
Back when the 500 was actually The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Hasn't been for quite some time now.
i think there was a time when they called it "The Greatest Spectacle in Sports"!
That Bardhal team car is awesome
Bryan, # 9, had a broken rear spring and shock which resulted in him being beaten to near death. When he stopped in the pits after the race, he passed out.
Bryan had to spend several days in the hospital after the race to recover.
Ironic trivia. Vukovich drove he Dean Van Lines #9 the next weekend at Milwaukee while Jimmy was still healing.
Amazing there used to be 100,000 fans for qualifying.
backin the 70's there were 200,000 for qualifying!
The track was paved with bricks still! Seat belts added for safety. But no roll bars? No wonder the driver died all the time. Really great film! I love the Speedway. The history can only rival the Churchill Downhill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Shawn
Vukie the Legend was the best at Indy bar none
Or the Milwaukee Mile
Maybe Daytona
@@kennethwhite3812 Rick Mears is right up there!
Roll bars were not mandated until 1959.
If you were there, watching that race @ 138mph, it would be just as exciting as 230mph like now.
If you were to get in one of those "slow old cars", & hit the gas, it would scare the heck out of you.
I have no doubt Vuky would have won in 1955 if not for the fatal crash and assuming his car would have no problems.
Love how the stands are so simple back then.
Roll bars were not mandated until 1959. With the driver's head a foot or so above the cockpit they didn't have much of a chance in a rollover.
Of those who finished in the top 10, four were dead by the end of calendar year, 1955, two being killed at Langhorne, PA where Jimmy Bryan also died (in 1960)
140mph in a bathtub is freakin fast
The survival rate for drivers in that period of time, was 1 in 3.
That’s right. A 1 in 3 chance you would survive...a 2 of 3 chance of not making it until the end of your career.
These guys would be losing friends on the average of once a month.
You had to have brass balls to be a driver during that time.
I think there was a stat somewhere where it said 11 of the 35 drivers that drove in the 1951 Indy 500 died within the next four years and almost all of them were automobile accident related
@@JumboFig24 17 of the 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 were killed in racing accidents - over half the field.
Formula 1 drivers (Jackie Stewart for one) in the 1970s boycotted for more safety, they were crashing and dying and no one organizing the events seemed to care.. The organizers were either too cheap or actually thought that was part of the game- like bull fights, someone has to die. To change things would be "bad optics" in today's parlance. Win (or die) on Sunday, sell on Monday. The manufacturers of normal production cars for the public fought seat belts and every other safety measure including the ones that protect people not even driving (air pollution still from vehicles still no 1 cause of pollution). Death and pollution no longer desired features to advertise.
If vuky died it wasn't going to be his fault.
You would think someone would have thought to put a small roll bar higher than the driver's head instead of using his head with the bicycle helmet .
1954 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Won 🏁🏎️🥛🏆 By Bill Vukovick Who Stared In 19th Place.😎
The Pole Sitter Jack McGrath Would Finsh In 3rd Place. 1 Minute 19.73 Seconds Behind Billy Vukovich.
Billy Vukovick Won 🏆🏎️🥛🏆In 3 Hours 49 Minutes And 17.27 Seconds!🏁🏎️🥛🏆🏆
It Was Billy Vukovich's 2nd Straight Victory At Indianapolis.🏆🏆😎
I Am Typing This At 10:52 a.m. , Monday Morning 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , May 13 , 2024.😎😎🤓🙂☺️
Notice not many overweight people back in the 50's look at us now, factory farming took over america in the 60's money became more important then our health "You reap what you Sow"
Sad but very true !!
@@muffs55mercury61 When the first MacDonalds opened up the flood gates of fast food started and we've been sick ever since!
@@healthyone100 I never set foot in a McDonalds until 1981 when I was 25 and to this day their menu was never on my favorites list. But you're right the obesity and upset stomach trains started with them.
Your head is the roll bar.
What were the older cars that look like dirt cars called
You mean "Roadsters"? I believe that's what you're referring to.
@@tagnut1952 Thanks for the response, but what I was thinking was before the roadster Era. They sat higher & were also higher behind the drivers head.