Back إنديانابوليس 500 سنة 1953 Arabic Gran Premi d'Indianapolis 500 del 1953 Catalan 500 mil Indianapolis 1953 Czech Indianapolis 500 1953 German 500 Millas de Indianápolis de 1953 Spanish Indianapolis 500 1953 Finnish 500 miles d'Indianapolis 1953 French 500 Millas de Indianapolis de 1953 Galician 1953-as indianapolisi 500 Hungarian 500 Miglia di Indianapolis 1953 Italian
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| 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[1] | ||||
| Honorary referee | Henry Ford II[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 190,000[2] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
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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, and was race 2 of 9 in the 1953 World Championship of Drivers. Bill Vukovich, after falling just short a year before, dominated the race, leading 195 of the 200 laps. Vukovich won the first of two consecutive "500" victories, finishing more than three minutes ahead of second place Art Cross.
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". Only twelve cars were running at the finish. Many starters needed relief drivers, and some relief drivers required their own relief drivers. Vukovich and Cross, however, both ran the full 500 miles solo. Owing to the excruciating conditions, driver Carl Scarborough dropped out of the race, and later died at the infield hospital due to heat prostration.[3][4] Not only were drivers and crew members suffering from the intense heat, but spectators as well. According to one of the doctors at the infield hospital, the number of persons requiring treatment at the hospital was "beyond comprehension". This included at least eleven members of the Purdue Band, who marched and performed during pre-race ceremonies.[5]
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Dramatic Fight Fails to Save Scaborough". The Star Press. May 31, 1953. p. 25. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Busiest Day for Hospital at Speedway". The Star Press. May 31, 1953. p. 25. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
