INDIANAPOLIS – Five-time Indianapolis 500 starter and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Bill Whittington died in a private plane crash April 23 in Arizona. He was 71 years old.

Whittington’s first four starts at Indianapolis, from 1980 through 1983, came with his family-owned team. His best result came in his final start, in 1985, when he placed 14th in the No. 12 Arciero Wines March/Cosworth owned by Frank Arciero.

Texas native Whittington’s best career Indianapolis start came in 1982, when he qualified sixth in the No. 94 Whittington/Warner W. Hogdon March/Cosworth. That year also was significant because it marked the only time in the history of the Indianapolis 500 that three brothers started in the same race, with brothers Don and Dale also in the field of 33 drivers.

Bill Whittington’s best career finish in limited CART starts from 1980-85 was fifth in 1985 at Mid-Ohio for Arciero Racing.

Whittington found more success in global and North American sports car racing.

He and his brother Don teamed with Klaus Ludwig to win the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 935 K3 fielded by Porsche Kremer Racing. Bill Whittington also finished second in the IMSA GT standings behind friend and Blue Thunder Racing teammate Randy Lanier in 1984, and his eight-year IMSA career ended with 14 victories.

Away from the race track, Bill Whittington was a part of a drug smuggling ring and in 1985 was charged with income tax evasion and conspiracy to smuggle marijuana into the United States from Colombia. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and was released after serving five years.

His brother, Don Whittington, was also arrested and spent 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering.