1953_Indianapolis_500

1953 Indianapolis 500

1953 Indianapolis 500

37th running of the Indianapolis 500

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.

Quick Facts Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500 ...

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

Practice

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

Qualifying

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

More information Row, Inside ...
R Indianapolis 500 rookie
W Indianapolis 500 winner

Alternates

Failed to qualify

Race

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

More information Pos, Grid ...
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics

More information Lap Leaders, Laps ...

Race notes

  • 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[8] (US$1,019,186 in 2023 dollars[9]).
  • One of the prizes awarded to the winner was a pet dog and a year's supply of dog food.[10]

Broadcasting

Radio

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.[11]

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.

More information Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, Booth Announcers ...

Championship standings after the race

World Drivers' Championship standings
More information Pos, Driver ...
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.
Championship car standings
More information Pos, Driver ...
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included.

References

  1. [1]
    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. [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.Open access icon
  3. [3]
    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. [4]
    Yates, Brock (1961). The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway. Harper. p. 67.
  5. [5]
    The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004
  6. [6]
    "1953 International 500 Mile Sweepstakes". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. [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. [8]
    Yates, Brock (1961). The Indianapolis 500: The Story of the Motor Speedway. Harper. p. 68.
  9. [9]
    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.
  10. [10]
    The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 13, 2004
  11. [11]
    "5 Stations To Handle 500-Mile". The Indianapolis Star. May 24, 1953. p. 63. Retrieved March 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. [12]
    "Indianapolis 1953 – Championship". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
Previous race:
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
Bill Vukovich		 Next race:
1954 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich
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