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1953 Indianapolis 500

Summary

The 37th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 30, 1953. The event was part of the 1953 AAA National Championship Trail, and was race 2 of 9 in the 1953 World Championship of Drivers.

37th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyAAA
DateMay 30, 1953
WinnerBill Vukovich
Winning EntrantHoward B. Keck
Average speed128.740 mph (207.187 km/h)
Pole positionBill Vukovich
Pole speed138.392 mph (222.720 km/h)
Most laps ledBill Vukovich (195)
Pre-race
Pace carFord Crestline Sunliner
Pace car driverWilliam Clay Ford
StarterSeth Klein[1]
Honorary refereeHenry Ford II[1]
Estimated attendance190,000[2]
Chronology
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1952 1954

Bill Vukovich, after falling short a year before, earned the first of two consecutive Indy 500 victories. With the temperature in the high 90s (°F), and the track temperature exceeding 130 °F (54 °C), this race is often known as the "Hottest 500." Driver Carl Scarborough dropped out the race, and later died at the infield hospital due to heat prostration.[3]

Due to the extreme heat conditions, several drivers in the field required relief drivers, and some relief drivers even required additional relief. Vukovich, however, as well as second-place finisher Art Cross, both ran the full 500 miles solo.

Race details edit

Practice edit

Sixteen-year race veteran Chet Miller died in an accident in practice on May 15.[4]

Qualifying edit

Time trials were scheduled for four days.

  • Saturday May 16 – Pole Day time trials (rained out)
  • Sunday May 17 – Second day time trials
  • Saturday May 23 – Third day time trials
  • Sunday May 24 – Fourth day time trials

Vukovich qualified on pole, with a speed of 138.392 mph (222.720 km/h).

Starting grid edit

Row Inside Middle Outside
1 14   Bill Vukovich 59   Fred Agabashian 5   Jack McGrath
2 88   Manny Ayulo 32   Andy Linden 98   Tony Bettenhausen
3 55   Jerry Hoyt 21   Johnnie Parsons  W  3   Sam Hanks
4 92   Rodger Ward 29   Bob Scott 16   Art Cross
5 41   Gene Hartley 23   Walt Faulkner 38   Don Freeland  R 
6 97   Chuck Stevenson 7   Paul Russo 62   Spider Webb
7 73   Carl Scarborough 12   Ernie McCoy  R  48   Jimmy Daywalt  R 
8 22   Marshall Teague  R  83   Mike Nazaruk 77   Pat Flaherty
9 2   Jim Rathmann 9   Duke Nalon 4   Duane Carter
10 49   Bill Holland  W  51   Bob Sweikert 99   Cal Niday  R 
11 8   Jimmy Bryan 53   Jimmy Davies 56   Johnny Thomson  R 
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates edit

Failed to qualify edit

Race edit

Polesitter Bill Vukovich dominated the race, leading 195 laps and also recording fastest lap.

Carl Scarborough retired from the race due to heat exhaustion, and died later at the infield hospital.[3]

Box score edit

Pos Grid No Driver Constructor Qual Rank Laps Time/retired WDC
Points 		AAA
Points
1 1 14   Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.39 1 200 3:53:01.69 91 1000
2 12 16   Art Cross Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.31 8 200 +3:30.87 6 800
3 9 3   Sam Hanks
(Relieved by Duane Carter Laps 152–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.53 5 200 +4:11.50 2
2 		532
4 2 59   Fred Agabashian
(Relieved by Paul Russo Laps 105–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.54 4 200 +4:39.24 1.5
1.5 		315
5 3 5   Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.60 13 200 +7:49.64 2 500
6 21 48   Jimmy Daywalt  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.74 23 200 +8:10.21 400
7 25 2   Jim Rathmann
(Relieved by Eddie Johnson Laps 113–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.66 27 200 +8:46.02 169.5
8 20 12   Ernie McCoy  R  Stevens-Offenhauser 135.92 22 200 +10:04.55 250
9 6 98   Tony Bettenhausen
(Relieved by Chuck Stevenson Laps 116–159)
(Relieved by Gene Hartley Laps 160–196) 		Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.02 20 196 Accident 116
10 32 53   Jimmy Davies Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.26 31 193 -7 laps 150
11 26 9   Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 135.46 30 191 Accident 100
12 19 73   Carl Scarborough ✝
(Relieved by Bob Scott Laps 70–190) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.93 21 190 -10 laps 17.5
13 4 88   Manny Ayulo Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.38 15 184 Engine
14 31 8   Jimmy Bryan Schroeder-Offenhauser 135.50 29 183 -17 laps
15 28 49   Bill Holland  W 
(Relieved by Jim Rathmann Laps 142–177) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.86 2 177 Magneto
16 10 92   Rodger Ward
(Relieved by Andy Linden Laps 116–144)
(Relieved by Duke Dinsmore Laps 145–154) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.46 6 177 Axle
17 14 23   Walt Faulkner
(Relieved by Johnny Mantz Laps 135–) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.11 10 176 -24 laps
18 22 22   Marshall Teague  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.72 25 169 Oil Leak
19 18 62   Spider Webb
(Relieved by Johnny Thomson Laps 113–157)
(Relieved by Jackie Holmes Laps 158–166) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.16 17 166 Oil Leak
20 29 51   Bob Sweikert Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.87 11 151 Suspension
21 23 83   Mike Nazaruk Turner-Offenhauser 135.70 26 146 Transmission
22 24 77   Pat Flaherty Kuzma-Offenhauser 135.66 28 115 Accident
23 7 55   Jerry Hoyt
(Relieved by Chuck Stevenson Laps 83–95)
(Relieved by Andy Linden Laps 96–107) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.73 24 107 Overheating
24 27 4   Duane Carter Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.26 32 94 Ignition
25 17 7   Paul Russo Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.21 16 89 Magneto
26 8 21   Johnnie Parsons  W  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.66 3 86 Engine
27 15 38   Don Freeland  R  Watson-Offenhauser 136.86 12 76 Accident
28 13 41   Gene Hartley Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.26 9 53 Accident
29 16 97   Chuck Stevenson Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.56 14 42 Fuel Leak
30 30 99   Cal Niday  R  Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.09 18 30 Magneto
31 11 29   Bob Scott Bromme-Offenhauser 137.43 7 14 Oil Leak
32 33 56   Johnny Thomson  R  Del Roy-Offenhauser 135.26 33 6 Ignition
33 5 32   Andy Linden Stevens-Offenhauser 136.06 19 3 Accident

 W  Former Indianapolis 500 winner

 R  Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics edit

Race notes edit

  • Pole position: Bill Vukovich – 4:20.13 (4 laps)
  • Fastest lead lap: Bill Vukovich – 1:06.240
  • The purse for first place was $89,496[10] (US$1,019,186 in 2023 dollars[11]).
  • One of the prizes awarded to the winner was a pet dog and a year's supply of dog food.[12]

Broadcasting edit

Radio edit

The race was carried live flag-to-flag on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. Instead of being produced by 1070 WIBC-AM, the network pooled together talent and technical staff from all five of the major radio stations in Indianapolis. The broadcast was anchored by Sid Collins, and featured on-air talent from WIBC, WFBM, WISH, WIRE, and WXLW.[13]

The broadcast signed on at 10:45 a.m. local time, and carried live through the conclusion, until 3:45 p.m. local time. The broadcast was carried on 135 stations in at least 35 states across the country, and on Armed Forced Network to Europe and Asia.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Booth Announcers Turn Reporters Pit/garage reporters

Chief Announcer: Sid Collins
Color: Charlie Brockman
Analyst: Chuck Breece

South Turns: Bill Frosch
North Turns: Jim Shelton
Trackside location: Dick Pittenger
Trackside location: Robin Bright

 Luke Walton (north pits)
Al Vare (south pits)
Sid Collins (victory lane)

Championship standings after the race edit

World Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
  1   Alberto Ascari 9
  16 2   Bill Vukovich 9
  1 3   Luigi Villoresi 6
  14 4   Art Cross 6
  2 5   José Froilán González 4
Source:[14]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.
Championship car standings
Pos Driver Points
  1   Bill Vukovich 1000
  2   Art Cross 800
  3   Sam Hanks 532
  4   Jack McGrath 500
  5   Jimmy Daywalt 400
Source:[6]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
  2. ^ Lamm, Corky (May 31, 1953). "Californian Leads Al But Two Laps; 5 Cars Crack Up". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ a b Yates, Brock (2005). Against Death and Time: One Fatal Season in Racing's Glory Years. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-1-56025-770-7. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
  4. ^ a b Yates, Brock (1961). The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway. Harper. p. 67.
  5. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  6. ^ a b "1953 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. ^ Davidson, Donald (2011-02-03). "Pit Lane before the 1953 Indianapolis 500". Blog.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
  8. ^ Barnet, Bob (May 31, 1953). "Notes on the 500-Mile Speedway Classic (Part 1)". The Star Press. p. 25. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ Barnet, Bob (May 31, 1953). "Notes on the 500-Mile Speedway Classic (Part 2)". The Star Press. p. 26. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ Yates, Brock (1961). The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway. Harper. p. 68.
  11. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  12. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 13, 2004
  13. ^ "5 Stations To Handle 500-Mile". The Indianapolis Star. May 24, 1953. p. 63. Retrieved March 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. 
  14. ^ "Indianapolis 1953 – Championship". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.

External links edit

  • Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats – Official Site
  • Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 – Fleetwood Sounds, 1975
  • 1953 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network: Re-broadcast on "The History of the 500" – WFNI (May 12, 2013)


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1953 Argentine Grand Prix 		FIA Formula One World Championship
1953 season 		Next race:
1953 Dutch Grand Prix
Previous race:
1952 Indianapolis 500
Troy Ruttman 		1953 Indianapolis 500
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1954 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich

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