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 , 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. 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.
Time trials On Friday May 15, one day prior to the opening of time trials, sixteen-year race veteran Chet Miller died in a crash in turn one. Going into the race, Miller was the 1-lap (139.600 mph) and 4-lap (139.034 mph) track record holder (139.600 mph), a mark that he set in 1952. After completing a fast lap of over 138 mph, Miller went low going into turn one. The back end got loose, then the car turned to the right and drove head-on into the outside retaining wall. The car slid along the outside wall for about 100 yards, and came to rest in the south short chute. Miller, was found dead of a basal skull fracture and brain hemorrhage and likely was killed instantly.
Saturday May 16 The first day of time trials was scheduled for Saturday May 15, but was rained out. Pole qualifying was rescheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m.
Sunday May 17 Morning rain delayed the start of time trials until about 2:20 p.m. Only twelve drivers managed to take to the track, and seven completed a qualifying attempt. Manny Ayulo was the first driver in the field, completing his run at a speed of 136.384 mph. Bill Vukovich won the pole position with a four-lap average speed of 138.392 mph, which was not a new track record. Vukovich famously completed his qualifying run in the rain. On his third lap, his car slid sideways going into turn one due to increasing dampness, but he stayed with it. On his fourth and final lap, as Vukovich was coming out of turn four, the skies opened up and a downpour ensued. The speed on his last lap slipped to 137 mph, but he nevertheless took the checkered flag. The track was closed and Vukovich secured the pole position.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph)114 Bill Vukovich139.147138.568138.739137.132138.392259 Fred Agabashian137.405138.376137.279137.132137.546359 Jack McGrath136.674137.153136.405136.178136.602488 Manny Ayulo136.240136.075136.6956136.529136.384532 Andy Linden135.196135.726136.446136.882136.060632 Tony Bettenhausen135.583136.529135.952136.033136.024755 Jerry Hoyt135.952135.399135.890135.685135.731 — 76 George Fonder wave off (twice) — — 16 Art Cross wave off — — 3 Sam Hanks wave off — — 62 Spider Webb wave off — — 4 Duane Carter did not take green flag — Source: The Indianapolis Star
Saturday May 23 The third day of time trials opened with 26 spots still open in the starting grid. With as many as 66 cars in the paddock looking for a chance to qualify, the schedule for time trials was extended to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A very busy day saw 45 total qualifying attempts; 27 cars completed an attempt. The field was filled to 33 cars, and one car (Joe Barzda) was bumped.
Johnnie Parsons, the 1950 winner, was the fastest driver of the day. His speed of 137.667 mph wound up being the third-fastest overall in the field, but as a third day qualifier, he was forced to line up in 8th starting spot (middle of row 3). The threat of rain added to the urgency of the day. However, the rain held off throughout most of the afternoon. Two drivers (Marshall Teague and Eddie Johnson) exhausted all three of their allotted attempts. Teague slid sideways in turn two during his attempt, but would hold on to make the field. Johnson would later be bumped.
No incidents were reported during the day. Art Cross threw a rod during his first attempt. He took over the car of Jimmy Reece, and qualified 12th. Among those not yet in the field was Henry Banks.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph) Notes8 21 Johnnie Parsons 137.447 138.079 138.079 137.070 137.667 9 3 Sam Hanks 137.573 137.510 137.783 137.259 137.531 10 92 Rodger Ward 137.636 137.678 137.342 137.216 137.468 11 29 Bob Scott 136.633 138.525 138.058 136.529 137.431 12 16 Art Cross 136.157 137.552 137.994 137.552 137.310 13 41 Gene Hartley 137.741 137.489 136.882 136.945 137.263 14 23 Walt Faulkner 137.258 137.342 137.195 136.674 137.117 15 38 Don Freeland 136.934 136.426 137.531 136.591 136.867 16 97 Chuck Stevenson 135.767 136.674 136.861 136.945 136.560 17 7 Paul Russo 136.219 136.116 136.737 135.808 136.219 18 62 Spider Webb 135.501 136.550 136.157 136.467 136.168 19 73 Carl Scarborough 135.014 135.952 136.116 136.674 135.936 20 12 Ernie McCoy 135.583 135.767 136.654 135.706 135.926 21 48 Jimmy Daywalt 135.747 135.767 135.522 135.952 135.747 22 22 Marshall Teague 135.379 135.281 135.911 135.318 135.721 23 83 Mike Nazaruk 135.095 135.583 135.706 136.446 135.706 24 77 Pat Flaherty 136.612 136.137 135.014 134.912 135.668 25 2 Jim Rathmann 136.116 135.767 135.237 135.542 135.666 26 9 Duke Nalon 135.338 135.788 135.277 135.440 135.461 27 4 Duane Carter 135.440 134.912 135.665 135.054 135.267 Failed to Qualify — 26 Eddie Johnson 134.811 135.318 135.706 135.115 135.237 Bumped on 5/24 — 78 Cal Niday 134.852 135.420 134.389 135.054 134.827 Bumped on 5/24 — 36 Potsy Goacher 134.409 134.368 134.933 134.771 134.620 Bumped on 5/24 — 61 Bill Holland 134.329 134.934 134.088 134.409 134.439 Bumped on 5/24 — 74 Pat O'Connor 133.929 134.933 134.751 133.849 134.363 Bumped on 5/24 — 31 Len Duncan 133.909 133.018 133.591 133.432 133.487 Bumped on 5/24 — 69 Joe Barzda 121.918 Bumped by Holland Source: The Indianapolis Star
Sunday May 24 Bump Day, the fourth and final day of time trials, was held on Sunday May 24. With the field already filled to 33 cars, the bumping process began right away. A total of six cars were bumped. Len Duncan was the first driver bumped for the day, after the successful run of Jimmy Bryan. Duncan later got in a backup car, but wrecked it in a practice run. Frank Armi spun out in turn two and also failed to make the race. Both Duncan and Armi would return to the make the race in 1954.
Bill Holland, the 1949 winner, returned to Indianapolis after being suspended by AAA for competing in "outlaw" races. Holland's car from the previous Sunday was bumped, but he took over the John Finch machine. He put in a speed of 137.868 mph, and became the second-fastest car overall in the field. Johnnie Tolan got out on the track with five seconds left before the 7 o'clock gun. His speed of 134.852 mph, however, was too slow to make the field.
Name Lap 1(mph) Lap 2(mph) Lap 3(mph) Lap 4(mph) Average Speed(mph) Notes2869 Bill Holland 138.291 138.782 138.122 136.302 137.868 Bumps Goacher2951 Bob Sweikert 136.945 136.778 136.924 136.841 136.872 Bumps Holland3099 Cal Niday 135.624 136.075 136.405 136.405 136.096 Bumps Johnson318 Jimmy Bryan 133.665 135.870 135.257 135.237 135.506 Bumps Duncan3253 Jimmy Davies 135.014 134.610 135.583 136.013 135.303 Bumps Niday3356 Johnny Thomson 136.116 136.100 134.791 134.068 135.262 Bumps O'ConnorFailed to Qualify — 85 Johnnie Tolan 134.852 — 63 Danny Oakes — 10 Henry Banks — 74 Pat O'Connor — 76 George Fonder — 65 George Tichenor Source: The Indianapolis Star
Carburetion Day - Tuesday May 26 The final practice was held on Tuesday May 26 in hot conditions. The ambient temperature topped out at , with a track temperature of . It would be a precursor for the hot weather in the forecast for race day.
Starting grid RowInsideMiddleOutside 114 Bill Vukovich59 Fred Agabashian5 Jack McGrath 288 Manny Ayulo32 Andy Linden98 Tony Bettenhausen 355 Jerry Hoyt21 Johnnie Parsons 3 Sam Hanks 492 Rodger Ward29 Bob Scott16 Art Cross 541 Gene Hartley23 Walt Faulkner38 Don Freeland 697 Chuck Stevenson7 Paul Russo62 Spider Webb 773 Carl Scarborough12 Ernie McCoy 48 Jimmy Daywalt 822 Marshall Teague 83 Mike Nazaruk77 Pat Flaherty 92 Jim Rathmann9 Duke Nalon4 Duane Carter 1049 Bill Holland 51 Bob Sweikert99 Cal Niday 118 Jimmy Bryan53 Jimmy Davies56 Johnny Thomson
Alternates First alternate: Eddie Johnson (#26)The Talk of Gasoline Alley – 1070-AM WIBC, May 14, 2004 – Bumped Second alternate: Johnnie Tolan (#66, #85) – Too slow
Failed to qualify All drivers from the United States unless stated.
Joe Barzda (#69) – Bumped Potsy Goacher (#36) – Bumped Pat O'Connor (#28, #64, #74) – Bumped Len Duncan (#31, #81) – Bumped George Fonder (#76) – Wave off Danny Oakes (#63) – Too slow Henry Banks (#10) – Unsuccessful attempt George Tichenor (#65) – Unsuccessful attempt Frank Armi (#79) Alberto Ascari (#97) – Did not appear Buzz Barton (#35) Bill Boyd (#86) Billy Cantrell (#42) Neal Carter (#23) George Connor (#25) Ray Crawford (#49) Jorge Daponte (#95) Billy Devore (#28) Duke Dinsmore (#52) Bill Doster Edgar Elder (#49) Johnny Fedricks (#46) John Fitch (#49, #74) Gene Force (#48) Cliff Griffith (#24) Red Hamilton (#91) Allen Heath (#65) Al Herman (#93) Jackie Holmes (#71) Bill Homeier (#84, #87) Johnny Kay (#67) Jud Larson (#96) Jim Mayes (#34) Johnny Mauro (#47) – Did not appear Chet Miller (#15) – Fatal accident Roy Newman (#43) Jimmy Reece (#16) Johnny Roberts (#82) Hal Robson (#57) Troy Ruttman (#2) Eddie Sachs (#34) Wayne Selser (#75) Joe Sostilio (#17) Harry Stockman (#84) Bill Taylor (#39) Leroy Warriner (#44) Ebe Yoder
Race summary First half Race day dawned hot, with temperatures climbing into the 90s. The command to start engines was given at 10:54 a.m., and the field pulled away for the pace lap. At start, Bill Vukovich took the lead from the pole position, and led the field into turn one. Manny Ayulo and Tony Bettenhausen battled for second as Vukovich pulled out to a comfortable lead. On lap 4, Andy Linden crashed in turn three. Jerry Hoyt spun to the infield grass to avoid the wreck. Linden was out, but Hoyt was able to continue in the race. The yellow light stayed on for about one lap, and Linden was not injured.
Vukovich surrendered the lead during his first pit stop on lap 48. That put Fred Agabashian in the lead for one lap, followed by Jim Rathmann, then Sam Hanks for two laps. After the leaders cycled through their stops, Vukovich was back in the lead on lap 54. At the same time, Gene Hartley spun out in turn four bringing out the second yellow of the day. Hartley was taken to the infield hospital, but was released and would be able to serve as a relief driver later in the day.