Billy Vukovich III

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{short description|American racing driver}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Billy Vukovich III

|birth_name = William John Vukovich III

|nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} American

|birth_date = {{birth date|1963|08|31}}

|birth_place = Fresno, California, United States

|death_date = {{death date and age|1990|11|25|1963|08|31}}

|death_place = Bakersfield, California, United States

|death_cause = Racing accident

|relatives = Bill Vukovich (grandfather)
Bill Vukovich II (father)

}}

William John Vukovich III (August 31, 1963 – November 25, 1990) was an American race car driver. He was a three-time starter of the Indianapolis 500. The grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich and the son of Bill Vukovich II, Vukovich III was the 1988 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Billy Vukovich III was killed in practice for a CRA race at Mesa Marin Raceway,{{cite web |last1=Glick |first1=Shav |authorlink=Shav Glick |title=Vukovich, 27, Is Killed in Crash at Bakersfield : Motor racing: Three-time Indy 500 starter and the only third-generation Indy 500 driver dies while warming up car before CRA event. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-26-sp-3953-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 27, 2018 |date=November 26, 1990}} in Bakersfield, California, when his throttle stuck open which caused his car to swerve into the wall. He was 27 years old.

Vukovich became the first third-generation driver to qualify in Indy 500 history. His grandfather was killed while leading the 1955 Indianapolis 500.

He got his start in racing driving for the John Runjavac racing team.