INDY 500: The real Mad Russian

Bill Vukovich Jr. was sitting in the IMS press room on Saturday watching Mikhail Aleshin slide his car through the first turn at 230mph and commented that he was pretty brave. Then he was informed, "Vuky, that's the real Mad Russian."

• Aleshin - 'I will remember that corner for the rest of my life'

Of course Vuky's father was nicknamed the Mad Russian in the 1950s when he nearly captured four consecutive Indianapolis 500s and died while leading the race in 1955. Vukovich, a 13-time starter himself at Indianapolis who cherishes his old man's legacy, always reminds people: "My dad wasn't mad at anybody and he wasn't Russian."

Following his scintillating, last-minute run to make the Fast 9, Aleshin walked up to the fourth floor of the IMS media center to meet some history.

"My dad was from Yugoslavia and he was the best ever at this joint," said Vuky (pictured with Aleshin, above). "You did a nice job out there today."

Aleshin, who proudly wears the Dan Gurney T-shirt he was given two years ago, shook Vuky's hand and said: "I'm not mad either – I'm really happy right now."