Date May 30, 1953 Winning Entrant Howard B. Keck | ||
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Average speed 128.740 mph (207.187 km/h) | ||
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 included in the 1953 World Drivers Championship.
Contents
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.
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.
Practice
Sixteen year race veteran Chet Miller died in an accident in practice on May 15.
Qualifying
Time trials were scheduled for four days.
Vukovich qualified on pole, with a speed of 138.392 mph (222.720 km/h).
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.
Alternates
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.
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 across the country, and on Armed Forced Network to Europe and Asia.