We have lost another legendary family. Bill Vukovich II, son of the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500 winner, died last night at the age of 79. He was the last of the Vukovich family.

His father, Bill Vukovich, was my first racing hero, and I was excited when Bill Junior came to the Speedway in 1968. He had big shoes to fill, and he did well.

Bill, Junior was only 10 years old when his father died. I wonder how much better a driver he might have been if he could have learned from Bill, Senior.

Vukovich won Rookie of the Year honors in 1968 with a seventh-place finish. In 1973 and 1974 he finished second and third in the 500, and earned three top 5s and six top 10s in his Indianapolis career.

Vukovich finished second in points in the 1972 USAC season. He split his time between USAC and THE ppg series later in his career.

Vukovich endured the worst of racing. His father, Bill, died in an accident while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500, and his son, Billy III, died in a practice accident in a midget in Bakersfield, California.

With the help of IMS next May, we can say a proper farewell to the Vukovich family. The 108th running of the 500 will be the 70th anniversary of the senior Vukovich’s second straight victory. I hope management can fit in a tribute to one of the Speedway’s legendary names.