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 Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

Bill Vukovich William John Vukovich Sr. (; December 13, 1918 – May 30, 1955) was an American automobile racing driver of Serbian descent. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500, plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races, ...

, 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 , 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. 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 Art Cross (January 24, 1918 – April 15, 2005) was an American racecar driver. He was the first recipient of the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award in 1952. Racing career Cross began racing midget cars in 1938. He received a Purple He ...

, both ran the full 500 miles solo.

Race details

Practice

Sixteen-year race veteran

Chet Miller Chester Miller (July 19, 1902 – May 15, 1953) was an American racecar driver. He was killed in a crash in the south turn of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500. Yates, Brock W. "The Indianapolis 500 ...

died in an accident in practice on May 15.

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 .

Race

Polesitter Bill Vukovich dominated the race, leading 195 laps and also recording fastest lap. * The race is commonly known as the "Hottest 500", with track temperatures exceeding . Recent research, however, has suggested that the 1937 race actually had higher recorded temperatures. Half the drivers in the field used relief help, including: **

Duane Carter Duane Carter (May 5, 1913 – March 7, 1993) was an American racecar driver. He raced midget cars, sprint cars, and IndyCars.Sam Hanks Samuel Dwight "Sam" Hanks (July 13, 1914 – June 27, 1994) was an American race car driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He was a barnstormer, and raced midget and Championship cars. Racing career Hanks was born in Columbus, Ohio and l ...

(151) **

Paul Russo Paul Russo (April 10, 1914 in Kenosha, Wisconsin – February 13, 1976 in Clearwater, Florida) was an American racecar driver. Midget car career He started racing midget cars in 1934. He went with a contingent of midget-car drivers to Hawa ...

(96) took over from

Fred Agabashian Levon "Fred" Agabashian (August 21, 1913 – October 13, 1989) was an American racer of midget cars and Indy cars. Career Midget car racing Agabashian competed in his first midget car race in his teens. His first championship was the 1937 ...

(104) ** Eddie Johnson (88) took over from

Jim Rathmann Jim Rathmann (July 16, 1928 – November 23, 2011), born Royal Richard Rathmann, was an American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1960. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series in the 1949–1950 and 1952–1963 sea ...

(112) **

Gene Hartley Leslie Eugene "Gene" Hartley (January 28, 1926 – March 13, 1993) was an American racecar driver. He was born and died in Roanoke, Indiana. Hartley was the son of midget car driver Ted Hartley, who competed into his 60s.

(37) and

Chuck Stevenson Charles Stevenson (October 15, 1919 – August 21, 1995) was an American racecar driver. AAA and USAC Championship Car series Stevenson drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1949–1954, 1960–1961, and 1963–1965 ...

(44) took over from

Tony Bettenhausen Melvin Eugene "Tony" Bettenhausen (September 12, 1916 – May 12, 1961) was an American racing driver, who won the National Championship in 1951 and 1958. Bettenhausen was nicknamed the "Tinley Park Express" in honor of his hometown. He was ...

(115) ** Bob Scott (121) took over from Carl Scarborough (69) **

(36) took over from

Bill Holland Willard Holland (December 18, 1907 – May 19, 1984)) was an American race car driver from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1949 and finished second in 1947, 1948 and 1950. He also was runner up in the 1947 American ...

(141) **

Duke Dinsmore J. Carlyle "Duke" Dinsmore (April 10, 1913 – October 13, 1985) was an American racecar driver. Complete AAA/USAC Championship Car results Indianapolis 500 results * Shared drive with Rodger Ward and Andy Linden. Dinsmore drove ten ...

(10) and Andy Linden (29) took over from

Rodger Ward Rodger M. Ward (January 10, 1921 – July 5, 2004) was a World War II P-38 aviator in the United States Army Air Forces, and an American race driver with 26 victories in top echelon open-wheel racing in North America, two Indianapolis 500 v ...

(138) **

Johnny Mantz Johnny Mantz (September 18, 1918 – October 25, 1972)< ...

(42) took over from

Walt Faulkner Walt Faulkner (February 16, 1918 – April 22, 1956) was an American racing driver from Tell, Texas. He moved to Milledgeville, Georgia at the age of two-and-a-half, and to Lake Wales, Florida at the age of eight. He then moved to San Diego, Cal ...

(134) ** Jackie Holmes (9) and

Johnny Thomson John A. Thomson (April 9, 1922 – September 24, 1960) was an American racecar driver. Thomson was nicknamed "the Flying Scot." He won several championships in midgets and sprint cars before competing in Championship Car (now IndyCar) racing. ...

(45) took over from Spider Webb (112) ** Andy Linden (12) and

(13) took over from Jerry Hoyt (82) Carl Scarborough retired from the race due to heat exhaustion, and died later at the infield hospital.

Box score

;Notes * – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Alternates

*First alternate: Eddie Johnson (#26)

Failed to qualify

* Frank Armi (#79) *

Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari (; 13 July 1918 – 26 May 1955) was an Italian racing driver and a two time Formula One World Champion. He was a multitalented racer who competed in motorcycle racing before switching to cars. Ascari won consecutive world titles ...

(#97) – Did not appear *

Henry Banks Henry Banks (June 14, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an American midget car and "big car" driver. "Married Roseanne Eisamann, two children, John Allen Banks, and Kathryn Roseanne Banks, three grandchildren Allen Edwin Banks, Jeffrey Henry Banks ...

(#10) *

Buzz Barton Buzz Barton (1913–1980) was an American film actor.Munden p.37 He is predominantly known for his roles as a child actor in a number of silent westerns made by the FBO studios during the 1920s. Following the introduction of sound, he mainly pla ...

(#35) *

Joe Barzda Joseph John "Joe" Barzda (May 22, 1915 – October 11, 1993) was an American racing driver from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Barzda was primarily a midget car racing, midget racing and sprint car racing driver but made ten starts in the United Sta ...

(#69) * Bill Boyd (#86) * Billy Cantrell (#42) * Neal Carter (#23) * George Connor (#25) * Ray Crawford (#49) * Jorge Daponte (#95) *

Billy DeVore Louis Wiley "Billy" Devore (12 September 1910, St. John, Kansas – 12 August 1985, Indianapolis, Indiana) was an American racecar driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving th ...

(#28) *

(#52) * Bill Doster * Len Duncan (#31, #81) * Edgar Elder (#49) *

Johnny Fedricks Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John (given name), John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly ...

(#46) * John Fitch (#49, #74) *

George Fonder George Thomas Fonder (June 22, 1917 Elmhurst, Pennsylvania – June 14, 1958 Hatfield, Pennsylvania) was an American racecar driver. He made four Championship Car starts, including two in the Indianapolis 500 and drove as a relief driver in ...

(#76) * Gene Force (#48) * Potsy Goacher (#36) *

Cliff Griffith Cliff Griffith (February 6, 1916 in Nineveh, Indiana – January 23, 1996 in Rochester, Indiana) was an American racecar driver. Griffith drove in the American Automobile Association, AAA and United States Automobile Club, USAC Championship Car s ...

(#24) * Red Hamilton (#91) * Allen Heath (#65) * Al Herman (#93) * Jackie Holmes (#71) * Bill Homeier (#84, #87) * Johnny Kay (#67) *

Jud Larson Eugene Wesley (Jud) Larson (January 21, 1923 Grand Prairie, Texas – June 11, 1966 Reading, Pennsylvania) was an American racecar driver. Larson drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1956-1959 and 1964-1965 seasons with ...

(#96) * Jim Mayes (#34) * Johnny Mauro (#47) – Did not appear *

(#15) – Fatal accident * Roy Newman (#43) *

Danny Oakes Danny Oakes (July 18, 1911 – January 13, 2007) was an American midget car hall of fame driver. Early life Daniel G. Oakes became interested in racing when he delivered morning and evening newspapers in his hometown of Santa Barbara, Califor ...

(#63) * Pat O'Connor (#28, #64, #74) *

Jimmy Reece Jimmy Reece (November 17, 1929 – September 28, 1958) was an American racecar driver. He died in an accident during a 1958 Champ Car race at Trenton Speedway. Indianapolis 500 results World Championship career summary The Indianap ...

(#16) * Johnny Roberts (#82) * Hal Robson (#57) *

Troy Ruttman Troy Ruttman (born March 11, 1930 – May 19, 1997) was an American race car driver. He was the older brother of Jimmy Ruttman, and NASCAR driver Joe Ruttman. Ruttman won the Indianapolis 500 in 1952, at the age of 22 years and 80 days. , he is ...

(#2) *

Eddie Sachs Edward Julius Sachs Jr, (May 28, 1927 – May 30, 1964) was a United States Auto Club driver who was known as the "Clown Prince of Auto Racing". He coined the phrase "If you can't win, be spectacular". Early life Sachs was born May 28, 1927 in A ...

(#34) * Wayne Selser (#75) * Joe Sostilio (#17) * Harry Stockman (#84) * Bill Taylor (#39) * George Tichenor (#65) * Johnnie Tolan (#66, #85) *

Leroy Warriner Leroy Warriner (March 1, 1919 – January 2, 2003) was an American racing driver from Indianapolis who attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 every year from 1951 to 1958 without succeeding. Warriner only managed to qualify for a single Cha ...

(#44) * Ebe Yoder

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 $89,496 (US$ in dollars). *One of the prizes awarded to the winner was a pet

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

and a year's supply of

dog food Dog food is food specifically formulated and intended for consumption by dogs and other related canines. Dogs are considered to be omnivores with a carnivorous bias. They have the sharp, pointed teeth and shorter gastrointestinal tracts of ca ...

.'' The Talk of Gasoline Alley'' – 1070-AM WIBC, May 13, 2004

Broadcasting

Radio

The race was carried live flag-to-flag on the

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network (known typically as the IMS Radio Network or the INDYCAR Radio Network), is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, the NTT IndyCar Series, and Indy Lights to ...

. 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 A wish is a hope or desire for something. In fiction, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used. In fiction In fictio ...

WIRE Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample diameter 40 mm A wire is a flexible strand of metal. Wire is c ...

, and WXLW. 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.

Championship standings after the race

;World Drivers' Championship standings *Note: Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.

Gallery

File:Indy500winningcar1953-1954.JPG, 1953 winning car

References

External links

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,

: ''Re-broadcast'' on "The History of the 500" –

WFNI WFNI (1070 AM) is a commercial radio station in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is owned by locally based Emmis Communications and carries a sports radio format, featuring ESPN Radio programming. The studios and offices are located at 40 Monu ...

(May 12, 2013) {{F1GP 50-59 Indianapolis 500 races

Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi ...

Indianapolis 1953 in American motorsport

Indy Indy may refer to: Computing and technology *Indy (software), used for Internet access to music *Internet Direct, or "Indy", a software library *SGI Indy, a computer workstation Periodicals *''The Indy'', shorthand for newspapers that include " ...