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 1955
INDIANAPOLIS 500®
Driver:
#4 Bill Vukovich
Bill Vukovich
drove the first Kurtis Kraft KK500A Roadster from an 8th place
start in the 1952 Indianapolis 500®. He led 150 laps before the
steering broke and put him into the wall on lap 192. At Indy in
1953 Vukovich won from the pole, lapping the field three times. In
winning the 1954 Indy 500®, Vukovich lapped the second-place car.
For 1955, Vukovich was considered the prohibitive favorite, with a new
Kurtis Kraft KK500C Roadster, a new car owner in Lindsey Hopkins,
and his veteran mechanics, Jim Travers and Frank Coon.
High winds on
pole day led to Vukovich qualifying in 5th place on the second day,
at 141.071 mph, third fastest in the field. When the 1955
Indianapolis 500® began, Jack McGrath charged to the front in a
KK500C before Vukovich took the point on Lap 4. Vukovich and
McGrath staged a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel for the lead before
Vukovich began pulling away. McGrath retired with magneto trouble
on the 54th lap, leaving Vukovich with nearly half a lap lead on
second place Bob
Sweikert in another Kurtis
Kraft Roadster. On Lap 57, Vukovich rounded Turn Two where
he became involved in a multi-car accident and suffered fatal
injuries. Sweikert
won the 1955 Indy 500® at an average speed of 128.209 mph.
Sweikert's response to his bittersweet victory was, "I'd be
more than happy to give up first place if only Billy could be
here."
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