1953 Indianapolis 500

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates

Template:Infobox Indy500 1911to1941 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 Template:Convert, 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.<ref name="OneFatalSeason">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

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.<ref name="yates">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref name="Starlineup51853">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Name Lap 1
(mph)		 Lap 2
(mph)		 Lap 3
(mph)		 Lap 4
(mph)		 Average Speed
(mph)
1 14 Bill Vukovich 139.147 138.568 138.739 137.132 138.392
2 59 Fred Agabashian 137.405 138.376 137.279 137.132 137.546
3 59 Jack McGrath 136.674 137.153 136.405 136.178 136.602
4 88 Manny Ayulo 136.240 136.075 136.6956 136.529 136.384
5 32 Andy Linden 135.196 135.726 136.446 136.882 136.060
6 32 Tony Bettenhausen 135.583 136.529 135.952 136.033 136.024
7 55 Jerry Hoyt 135.952 135.399 135.890 135.685 135.731
— 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<ref name="Starlineup51853"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Name Lap 1
(mph)		 Lap 2
(mph)		 Lap 3
(mph)		 Lap 4
(mph)		 Average Speed
(mph)		 Notes
8 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

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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Name Lap 1
(mph)		 Lap 2
(mph)		 Lap 3
(mph)		 Lap 4
(mph)		 Average Speed
(mph)		 Notes
28 69 Bill Holland 138.291 138.782 138.122 136.302 137.868 Bumps Goacher
29 51 Bob Sweikert 136.945 136.778 136.924 136.841 136.872 Bumps Holland
30 99 Cal Niday 135.624 136.075 136.405 136.405 136.096 Bumps Johnson
31 8 Jimmy Bryan 133.665 135.870 135.257 135.237 135.506 Bumps Duncan
32 53 Jimmy Davies 135.014 134.610 135.583 136.013 135.303 Bumps Niday
33 56 Johnny Thomson 136.116 136.100 134.791 134.068 135.262 Bumps O'Connor
Failed to Qualify
— 85 Johnnie Tolan 134.852
— 63 Danny Oakes
— 10 Henry Banks
— 74 Pat O'Connor
— 76 George Fonder
— 65 George Tichenor

Carburetion Day - Tuesday May 26

The final practice was held on Tuesday May 26 in hot conditions. The ambient temperature topped out at Template:Cvt, with a track temperature of Template:Cvt. It would be a precursor for the hot weather in the forecast for race day.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

Starting grid

Row Inside Middle Outside
1 14 Template:Flagicon Bill Vukovich 59 Template:Flagicon Fred Agabashian 5 Template:Flagicon Jack McGrath
2 88 Template:Flagicon Manny Ayulo 32 Template:Flagicon Andy Linden 98 Template:Flagicon Tony Bettenhausen
3 55 Template:Flagicon Jerry Hoyt 21 Template:Flagicon Johnnie Parsons Template:Color box 3 Template:Flagicon Sam Hanks
4 92 Template:Flagicon Rodger Ward 29 Template:Flagicon Bob Scott 16 Template:Flagicon Art Cross
5 41 Template:Flagicon Gene Hartley 23 Template:Flagicon Walt Faulkner 38 Template:Flagicon Don Freeland Template:Color box
6 97 Template:Flagicon Chuck Stevenson 7 Template:Flagicon Paul Russo 62 Template:Flagicon Spider Webb
7 73 Template:Flagicon Carl Scarborough 12 Template:Flagicon Ernie McCoy Template:Color box 48 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Daywalt Template:Color box
8 22 Template:Flagicon Marshall Teague Template:Color box 83 Template:Flagicon Mike Nazaruk 77 Template:Flagicon Pat Flaherty
9 2 Template:Flagicon Jim Rathmann 9 Template:Flagicon Duke Nalon 4 Template:Flagicon Duane Carter
10 49 Template:Flagicon Bill Holland Template:Color box 51 Template:Flagicon Bob Sweikert 99 Template:Flagicon Cal Niday Template:Color box
11 8 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Bryan 53 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Davies 56 Template:Flagicon Johnny Thomson Template:Color box

Template:Legend Template:Legend

Alternates

Failed to qualify

All drivers from the United States unless stated. Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

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.

The grueling conditions were starting to take a toll on the field. Several cars dropped out with mechanical problems before the halfway point. Jimmy Davies came into the pits without brakes, and brushed the inside wall to slow the car down. He would stay in the race to finish 10th, but several laps down. When Duke Nalon came in for his pit stop, his crew dumped a bucket of water over his head. On lap 70, Carl Scarborough came into the pits, feeling sick from the heat and fumes. Due to a fuel spill, a small fire broke out on the side of the car. The fire was quickly extinguished, and Scarborough climbed over the pit wall where he collapsed onto a chair.<ref name=Reed>Template:Cite book</ref> Bob Scott, who had already dropped out with an oil leak, took over behind the wheel. Scarborough was taken to the infield hospital where his temperature was recorded as Template:Convert. Physicians unsuccessfully performed open-heart massage, but he died of what was reported as heat prostration.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> According to speedway historian Donald Davidson, Scarborough may have inhaled carbon dioxide from the fire extinguishers, which may have contributed to, or been the actual cause of death.

With 80 laps completed, Bill Vukovich was still leading, with Art Cross second and Fred Agabashian third. Don Freeland lost a wheel in turn one on the leader's lap 81, and he spun down to the infield grass. He was unhurt, but the car was finished. Johnnie Parsons dropped out with a blown engine on lap 86, and Duane Carter was out with ignition problems.

Second half

At the halfway point, Bill Vukovich led with Fred Agabashian in second and Sam Hanks in third. Agabashian came in for a pit stop on lap 104. Agabashian was overcome by the heat and the engine fumes, and had to be replaced in the cockpit by relief driver Paul Russo. Jim Rathmann did the same, handing his car over to Eddie Johnson on lap 113. Vukovich came in for his second pit stop on lap 112, followed by Hanks four laps later. Back out on the track, Vukovich had a 50-second lead over Hanks.

Pat Flaherty hit the wall in the northchute on the leaders' lap 118. The yellow light was turned on for 6 minutes and 50 seconds to clean up the oil and fluids that spilled on the track. The next driver to fall by the wayside was Tony Bettenhausen. After completing 115 laps, Bettenhausen came into the pits signaling for a relief driver. Chuck Stevenson took over the car as Bettenhausen passed out and collapsed to the ground from the heat. After a lengthy period of rest, Jim Rathmann got back in the race. Rathmann took over the car of Bill Holland, but it ultimately broke down with a magneto failure.

At the 150-lap mark (375 miles), Bill Vukovich had lapped the field. Manny Ayulo was running second, and Sam Hanks in third. Ayulo's day ended after 184 laps with engine failure. Hanks came in on lap 151, and he was the next to need a relief driver. Duane Carter got behind the wheel, but the team lost considerable time as the crew had to repair a broken exhaust pipe before he could get the car back out. Marshall Teague came in on lap 169 needing assistance climbing out of the car. Cal Niday was preparing to take over behind the wheel, but in the meantime, the crew discovered an irreparable oil leak and the car was done for the day.

Bill Vukovich made his final pit stop on lap 171. Henry Banks was reportedly standing by in Vukovich's pit, with his helmet on ready to drive relief. Vukovich, however, refused the help and insisted on driving the full 500 miles solo. He drank a cup of water, poured some water down the back of his shirt, and went back out on the track. After witnessing this, radio network reporter Luke Walton labeled Vukovich the "ironman" of the race. Walton described the day as the "hottest day we've had in Hoosierland since Willkie accepted the nomination in Elwood back in 1940".<ref>Van Camp's Pork & Beans Presents: Great Moments From the Indy 500 - Fleetwood Sounds, 1975</ref>

Vukovich cruised over the final 30 laps and won his first "500" by 3 minutes and 30 seconds (about 3 laps) over second place Art Cross. Duane Carter (driving the car of Sam Hanks) came home third, with Paul Russo (driving the car of Fred Agabashian) fourth. As Vukovich was headed to victory lane, the action on the track was still hot. Gene Hartley (driving Tony Bettenhausen's car) crashed, as did Duke Nalon. Officials flagged the race after the first eight cars finished. Only four other cars were still running.

Box score

Finish Grid No. Driver Constructor Qualifying Laps Time/Retired Points
Speed Rank Template:Abbr Template:Abbr
1 1 14 Template:Flagicon Bill Vukovich Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 138.39 1 200 3:53:01.69 1000 9Template:Ref
2 12 16 Template:Flagicon Art Cross Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.31 8 200 +3:30.87 800 6
3 9 3 Template:Flagicon Sam Hanks
(Duane Carter Laps 152–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.53 5 200 +4:11.50 532
168 		2
2
4 2 59 Template:Flagicon Fred Agabashian
(Paul Russo Laps 105–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.54 4 200 +4:39.24 315
285 		1.5
1.5
5 3 5 Template:Flagicon Jack McGrath Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.60 13 200 +7:49.64 500 2
6 21 48 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Daywalt Template:Color box Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.74 23 200 +8:10.21 400
7 25 2 Template:Flagicon Jim Rathmann
(Eddie Johnson Laps 113–200) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.66 27 200 +8:46.02 169½
130½
8 20 12 Template:Flagicon Ernie McCoy Template:Color box Stevens-Offenhauser 135.92 22 200 +10:04.55 250
9 6 98 Template:Flagicon Tony Bettenhausen
(Chuck Stevenson Laps 116–159)
(Gene Hartley Laps 160–196) 		Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.02 20 196 Accident 116
45
39
10 32 53 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Davies Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.26 31 193 -7 laps 150
11 26 9 Template:Flagicon Duke Nalon Kurtis Kraft-Novi 135.46 30 191 Accident 100
12 19 73 Template:Flagicon Carl Scarborough ✝
(Bob Scott Laps 70–190) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.93 21 190 -10 laps 17½
32½
13 4 88 Template:Flagicon Manny Ayulo Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.38 15 184 Engine
14 31 8 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Bryan Schroeder-Offenhauser 135.50 29 183 -17 laps
15 28 49 Template:Flagicon Bill Holland Template:Color box
(Jim Rathmann Laps 142–177) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.86 2 177 Magneto
16 10 92 Template:Flagicon Rodger Ward
(Andy Linden Laps 116–144)
(Duke Dinsmore Laps 145–154) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.46 6 177 Axle
17 14 23 Template:Flagicon Walt Faulkner
(Johnny Mantz Laps 135–) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.11 10 176 -24 laps
18 22 22 Template:Flagicon Marshall Teague Template:Color box Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.72 25 169 Oil Leak
19 18 62 Template:Flagicon Spider Webb
(Johnny Thomson Laps 113–157)
(Jackie Holmes Laps 158–166) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.16 17 166 Oil Leak
20 29 51 Template:Flagicon Bob Sweikert Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.87 11 151 Suspension
21 23 83 Template:Flagicon Mike Nazaruk Turner-Offenhauser 135.70 26 146 Transmission
22 24 77 Template:Flagicon Pat Flaherty Kuzma-Offenhauser 135.66 28 115 Accident
23 7 55 Template:Flagicon Jerry Hoyt
(Chuck Stevenson Laps 83–95)
(Andy Linden Laps 96–107) 		Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 135.73 24 107 Overheating
24 27 4 Template:Flagicon Duane Carter Lesovsky-Offenhauser 135.26 32 94 Ignition
25 17 7 Template:Flagicon Paul Russo Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.21 16 89 Magneto
26 8 21 Template:Flagicon Johnnie Parsons Template:Color box Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.66 3 86 Engine
27 15 38 Template:Flagicon Don Freeland Template:Color box Watson-Offenhauser 136.86 12 76 Accident
28 13 41 Template:Flagicon Gene Hartley Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 137.26 9 53 Accident
29 16 97 Template:Flagicon Chuck Stevenson Kuzma-Offenhauser 136.56 14 42 Fuel Leak
30 30 99 Template:Flagicon Cal Niday Template:Color box Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser 136.09 18 30 Magneto
31 11 29 Template:Flagicon Bob Scott Bromme-Offenhauser 137.43 7 14 Oil Leak
32 33 56 Template:Flagicon Johnny Thomson Template:Color box Del Roy-Offenhauser 135.26 33 6 Ignition
33 5 32 Template:Flagicon Andy Linden Stevens-Offenhauser 136.06 19 3 Accident

Note: Relief drivers in parentheses<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Color box Former Indianapolis 500 winner

Template:Color box Indianapolis 500 Rookie

All entrants utilized Firestone tires.

Template:Note – Includes 1 point for fastest lead lap

Race statistics

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

Lap Leaders
Laps Leader
1–48 Bill Vukovich
49 Fred Agabashian
50 Jim Rathmann
51–53 Sam Hanks
54–200 Bill Vukovich

Template:Col-break

Total laps led
Driver Laps
Bill Vukovich 195
Sam Hanks 3
Fred Agabashian 1
Jim Rathmann 1

Template:Col-break

Yellow Lights: 9 minutes, 28 seconds
Laps* Reason
4 Andy Linden crash in turn 3 (55 seconds)
54 Gene Hartley spin in turn 4 (60 seconds)
81 Don Freeland lost a wheel in turn 1 (43 seconds)
118–122 Pat Flaherty crash in northchute (6:50)
* – Approximate lap counts<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

Template:Col-end

Race notes

Broadcasting

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.<ref name="Star05-24-1953pg63">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>

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. Towards the end of the race, chief announcer Sid Collins departed the booth in order to report from victory lane. Charlie Brockman, the color commentator and co-announcer, called the last few laps including the finish.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
Booth Announcers Turn Reporters Pit/garage reporters

Chief Announcer: Sid Collins
Color: Charlie Brockman
Analyst: Chuck Breece

South Turns: Bill Frosch
North Turns: Jim Shelton
Trackside location: Dick Pittenger
Trackside location: Robin Bright

 Luke Walton (north pits)
Al Vare (south pits)
Sid Collins (victory lane)

World Drivers' Championship

Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report

Background

The Indianapolis 500 was included in the FIA World Championship of Drivers from 1950 through 1960. The race was sanctioned by AAA through 1955, and then by USAC beginning in 1956. At the time the new world championship was announced and first organized by the CSI, the United States did not yet have a Grand Prix. Indianapolis Motor Speedway vice president and general manager Theodore E. "Pop" Meyers lobbied that the Indianapolis 500 be selected as the race to represent the country and to pay points towards the world championship.<ref name="TOGA 5-23-07">Template:Cite episode</ref><ref name="TOGA 5-19-16">Template:Cite episode</ref>

Drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 through 1960 were credited with participation in and earned points towards the World Championship of Drivers.<ref name="TOGA 5-05-12">Template:Cite episode</ref> However, the machines competing at Indianapolis were not necessarily run to Formula One specifications and regulations.<ref name="Capps 2000">Template:Cite journal</ref> The drivers also earned separate points (on a different scale) towards the respective AAA or USAC national championships. No points, however, were awarded by the FIA towards the World Constructors' Championship.

Summary

The 1953 Indianapolis 500 was round 2 of 9 on the 1953 World Championship. The event, however, failed to attract interest from any of the regular competitors on the Grand Prix circuit. Race winner Bill Vukovich earned 9 points towards the World Championship (8 points for first place, and 1 point for the fastest lap). Despite not competing in any of the other World Championship events, he finished seventh in the final season standings.

World Drivers' Championship standings after the race

Pos Driver Points
File:1rightarrow blue.svg 1 Template:Flagicon Alberto Ascari 9
File:1uparrow green.svg 16 2 Template:Flagicon Bill Vukovich 9
File:1downarrow red.svg 1 3 Template:Flagicon Luigi Villoresi 6
File:1uparrow green.svg 14 4 Template:Flagicon Art Cross 6
File:1downarrow red.svg 2 5 Template:Flagicon José Froilán González 4
Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

AAA Championship car standings after the race

Pos Driver Points
File:1rightarrow blue.svg 1 Template:Flagicon Bill Vukovich 1000
File:1rightarrow blue.svg 2 Template:Flagicon Art Cross 800
File:1rightarrow blue.svg 3 Template:Flagicon Sam Hanks 532
File:1rightarrow blue.svg 4 Template:Flagicon Jack McGrath 500
File:1rightarrow blue.svg 5 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Daywalt 400
Source:<ref name="champcarstats" />

References

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