Sport: Sudden Death

It looked like a bad day for the big spin in "The Brickyard." Grey rain clouds scudded over Indianapolis; damp winds skittered across the infield as the Memorial Day 500-mile auto race got under way. But Wild Bill Vukovich, 36, the "Grape Picker" from Fresno, Calif., had no time to worry about weather. He kept his eyes on the track. A two-time winner in the 500, "Vuky" was hell-bent on pulling off an unprecedented three in a row.

Skillful, steady and utterly fearless, Vuky wasted no time. He gunned his Hopkins Special into a fierce duel with Jack MrGrath's Hinkle Special, and...

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