1953 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.
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | AAA | ||||
| Date | May 30, 1953 | ||||
| Winner | Bill Vukovich | ||||
| Winning Entrant | Howard B. Keck | ||||
| Average speed | 128.740 mph (207.187 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Bill Vukovich | ||||
| Pole speed | 138.392 mph (222.720 km/h) | ||||
| Most laps led | Bill Vukovich (195) | ||||
| Pre-race | |||||
| Pace car | Ford Crestline Sunliner | ||||
| Pace car driver | William Clay Ford | ||||
| Starter | Seth Klein | ||||
| Honorary referee | Henry Ford II | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 190,000 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
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.