Bill Vukovich

As the 1955 Indianapolis 500 began, the question on everyone's mind was whether Bill Vukovich would win a third consecutive victory.

The tough-as-nails Californian won in 1953 on the hottest day in race history after starting on the pole and leading for 195 laps. In 1954, mechanical problems during qualifications put him in the seventh row for the race. He quickly worked his way to the front and went on to his second consecutive victory.

For the first 50 laps of the 1955 race, he was out front again, but then it happened. Three other drivers banged together just ahead of him and Vukovich couldn't avoid it. His car went over the rail end over end and landed upside down. The great Vuky was dead.