1953 Indianapolis 500 | |||||
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Winning car of the 1953 Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Race details | |||||
Date | 30 May 1953 | ||||
Official name | 37th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes | ||||
Location | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | ||||
Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
Course length | 4.023 km (2.5 miles) | ||||
Distance | 200 laps, 804.672 km (500 miles) | ||||
Weather | Extremely hot | ||||
Attendance | 190,000[1] | ||||
Pole position | |||||
Driver | Howard B. Keck | ||||
Time | 4:20.13 (4 laps) | ||||
Podium | |||||
First | Howard B. Keck | ||||
Second | Bessie Lee Paoli | ||||
Third | Ed Walsh |
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.
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.[2]
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.
Sixteen-year race veteran Chet Miller died in an accident in practice on May 15.[3]
Time trials were scheduled for four days.
Vukovich qualified on pole, with a speed of 138.392 mph (222.720 km/h).
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.[2]
Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Constructor | Qual | Rank | Laps | Led | Time/retired | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 14 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 138.39 | 1 | 200 | 195 | 3:53:01.69 | 91 |
2 | 12 | 16 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.31 | 8 | 200 | 0 | +3:30.87 | 6 |
3 | 9 | 3 | ![]() (relieved by Duane Carter) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.53 | 5 | 200 | 3 | +4:11.50 | 2 2 |
4 | 2 | 59 | ![]() (relieved by Paul Russo) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.54 | 4 | 200 | 1 | +4:39.24 | 1.5 1.5 |
5 | 3 | 5 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 136.60 | 13 | 200 | 0 | +7:49.64 | 2 |
6 | 21 | 48 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 135.74 | 23 | 200 | 0 | +8:10.21 | |
7 | 25 | 2 | ![]() (relieved by Eddie Johnson) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 135.66 | 27 | 200 | 1 | +8:46.02 | |
8 | 20 | 12 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser | 135.92 | 22 | 200 | 0 | +10:04.55 | |
9 | 6 | 98 | ![]() (relieved by Chuck Stevenson) (relieved by Gene Hartley) |
Kuzma-Offenhauser | 136.02 | 20 | 196 | 0 | Accident | |
10 | 32 | 53 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 135.26 | 31 | 193 | 0 | +7 laps | |
11 | 26 | 9 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Novi | 135.46 | 30 | 191 | 0 | Accident | |
12 | 19 | 73 | ![]() (relieved by Bob Scott) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 135.93 | 21 | 190 | 0 | +10 laps | |
13 | 4 | 88 | ![]() |
Kuzma-Offenhauser | 136.38 | 15 | 184 | 0 | Engine | |
14 | 31 | 8 | ![]() |
Schroeder-Offenhauser | 135.50 | 29 | 183 | 0 | +17 laps | |
15 | 28 | 49 | ![]() (relieved by Jim Rathmann) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.86 | 2 | 177 | 0 | Magneto | |
16 | 10 | 92 | ![]() (relieved by Andy Linden) (relieved by Duke Dinsmore) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.46 | 6 | 177 | 0 | Axle | |
17 | 14 | 23 | ![]() (relieved by Johnny Mantz) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.11 | 10 | 176 | 0 | +24 laps | |
18 | 22 | 22 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 135.72 | 25 | 169 | 0 | Oil Leak | |
19 | 18 | 62 | ![]() (relieved by Johnny Thomson) (relieved by Jackie Holmes) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 136.16 | 17 | 166 | 0 | Oil Leak | |
20 | 29 | 51 | ![]() |
Kuzma-Offenhauser | 136.87 | 11 | 151 | 0 | Suspension | |
21 | 23 | 83 | ![]() |
Turner-Offenhauser | 135.70 | 26 | 146 | 0 | Transmission | |
22 | 24 | 77 | ![]() |
Kuzma-Offenhauser | 135.66 | 28 | 115 | 0 | Accident | |
23 | 7 | 55 | ![]() (relieved by Chuck Stevenson) (relieved by Andy Linden) |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 135.73 | 24 | 107 | 0 | Overheating | |
24 | 27 | 4 | ![]() |
Lesovsky-Offenhauser | 135.26 | 32 | 94 | 0 | Ignition | |
25 | 17 | 7 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 136.21 | 16 | 89 | 0 | Magneto | |
26 | 8 | 21 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.66 | 3 | 86 | 0 | Engine | |
27 | 15 | 38 | ![]() |
Watson-Offenhauser | 136.86 | 12 | 76 | 0 | Accident | |
28 | 13 | 41 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 137.26 | 9 | 53 | 0 | Accident | |
29 | 16 | 97 | ![]() |
Kuzma-Offenhauser | 136.56 | 14 | 42 | 0 | Fuel Leak | |
30 | 30 | 99 | ![]() |
Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser | 136.09 | 18 | 30 | 0 | Magneto | |
31 | 11 | 29 | ![]() |
Bromme-Offenhauser | 137.43 | 7 | 14 | 0 | Oil Leak | |
32 | 33 | 56 | ![]() |
Del Roy-Offenhauser | 135.26 | 33 | 6 | 0 | Ignition | |
33 | 5 | 32 | ![]() |
Stevens-Offenhauser | 136.06 | 19 | 3 | 0 | Accident |
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.[10]
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 | ||
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Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit/garage reporters |
Chief Announcer: Sid Collins |
South Turns: Bill Frosch |
Luke Walton (north pits) Al Vare (south pits) Sid Collins (victory lane) |
Pos | Driver | Points | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1 | ![]() |
9 |
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2 | ![]() |
9 |
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3 | ![]() |
6 |
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4 | ![]() |
6 |
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5 | ![]() |
4 |
Source:[11] |