1953 Indianapolis 500

1953 Round 2 · Indianapolis · 1953-05-30

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Laps: 200
Distance: 804.672 km
Circuit Type: RACE
Direction: Clockwise

Circuit Details

Course Length	4.023 km
Turns	4
Qualifying Format	FOUR_LAPS

Race Results

Column abbreviations (9)

Pos = Finish position# = Car numberGrid = Starting grid+/- = Positions gainedTime/Gap = Finishing time or gap to winnerStatus = Retirement / penaltyPts = PointsPits = Pit stopsBadges = FL / DotD / GS / Pole / Shared

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Grid	+/-	Laps	Time/Gap	Status	Pts	Pits	Badges
1	14	William Vukovich	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	1	0	200	3:53:01.690	—	9	—	FLPole
2	16	Arthur Francis Cross	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	12	+10	200	+3:30.872	—	6	—	—
3	3	Samuel Dwight Hanks	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	9	+6	200	+4:11.500	—	2	—	—
3	3	Duane Claude Carter	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	Shared
4	59	Levon Agabashian	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	2	-2	200	+4:39.240	—	1.5	—	—
4	59	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	1.5	—	Shared
5	5	John James McGrath	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	3	-2	200	+7:49.640	—	2	—	—
6	48	James Edward Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	21	+15	200	+8:10.210	—	—	—	—
7	2	Royal Richard Rathmann	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	25	+18	200	+8:46.020	—	—	—	—
7	2	Eddie Johnson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
8	12	Ernie McCoy	Stevens	Offenhauser	Firestone	20	+12	200	+10:04.550	—	—	—	—
9	98	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	6	-3	196	—	Accident	—	—	—
9	98	Charles Joseph Stevenson	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
9	98	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
10	53	James Richard Davies	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	32	+22	193	+7 laps	—	—	—	—
11	9	Dennis Clayton Nalon	Kurtis Kraft	Novi	Firestone	26	+15	191	—	Accident	—	—	—
12	73	Carl Scarborough	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	19	+7	190	+10 laps	—	—	—	—
12	73	Robert Franklin Scott	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
13	88	Manuel Leaonedas Ayulo	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	4	-9	184	—	Engine	—	—	—
14	8	James Ernest Bryan	Schroeder	Offenhauser	Firestone	31	+17	183	+17 laps	—	—	—	—
15	49	Willard Saulsbury Holland	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	28	+13	177	—	Magneto	—	—	—
15	49	Royal Richard Rathmann	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
16	92	Rodger Morris Ward	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	10	-6	177	—	Axle	—	—	—
16	92	Andrew Logan Linden	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
16	92	Carlyle John Dinsmoor	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
17	23	Walter Faulkner	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	14	-3	176	+24 laps	—	—	—	—
17	23	Johnny Mantz	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
18	22	Marshall Pleasant Teague	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	22	+4	169	—	Oil leak	—	—	—
19	62	Travis Leon Webb	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	18	-1	166	—	Oil leak	—	—	—
19	62	John Ashley Thomson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
19	62	Jackie Holmes	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
20	51	Robert Charles Sweikert	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	29	+9	151	—	Suspension	—	—	—
21	83	Michael Nazaruk	Turner	Offenhauser	Firestone	23	+2	146	—	Transmission	—	—	—
22	77	George Francis Flaherty	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	24	+2	115	—	Accident	—	—	—
23	55	Gerald Frederick Hoyt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	7	-16	107	—	Overheating	—	—	—
23	55	Charles Joseph Stevenson	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
23	55	Andrew Logan Linden	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shared
24	4	Duane Claude Carter	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	27	+3	94	—	Ignition	—	—	—
25	7	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	17	-8	89	—	Magneto	—	—	—
26	21	John Woodrow Parsons	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	8	-18	86	—	Engine	—	—	—
27	38	Don Freeland	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	15	-12	76	—	Accident	—	—	—
28	41	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	13	-15	53	—	Accident	—	—	—
29	97	Charles Joseph Stevenson	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	16	-13	42	—	Fuel leak	—	—	—
30	99	Calvin Lee Niday	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	30	0	30	—	Magneto	—	—	—
31	29	Robert Franklin Scott	Bromme	Offenhauser	Firestone	11	-20	14	—	Oil leak	—	—	—
32	56	John Ashley Thomson	Del Roy	Offenhauser	Firestone	33	+1	6	—	Ignition	—	—	—
33	32	Andrew Logan Linden	Stevens	Offenhauser	Firestone	5	-28	3	—	Accident	—	—	—

Starting Grid

Column abbreviations (4)

Pos = Grid position# = Car numberQuali = Qualifying positionPenalty = Grid penalty

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Quali	Penalty	Time
1	14	William Vukovich	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	1	—	4:20.130
2	59	Levon Agabashian	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	2	—	4:21.730
3	5	John James McGrath	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	3	—	4:23.540
4	88	Manuel Leaonedas Ayulo	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	4	—	4:23.960
5	32	Andrew Logan Linden	Stevens	Offenhauser	Firestone	5	—	4:24.590
6	98	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	6	—	4:24.660
7	55	Gerald Frederick Hoyt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	7	—	4:25.230
8	21	John Woodrow Parsons	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	8	—	4:21.500
9	3	Samuel Dwight Hanks	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	9	—	4:21.760
10	92	Rodger Morris Ward	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	10	—	4:21.880
11	29	Robert Franklin Scott	Bromme	Offenhauser	Firestone	11	—	4:21.950
12	16	Arthur Francis Cross	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	12	—	4:22.180
13	41	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	13	—	4:22.270
14	23	Walter Faulkner	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	14	—	4:22.550
15	38	Don Freeland	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	15	—	4:23.030
16	97	Charles Joseph Stevenson	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	16	—	4:23.620
17	7	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	17	—	4:24.280
18	62	Travis Leon Webb	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	18	—	4:24.380
19	73	Carl Scarborough	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	19	—	4:24.830
20	12	Ernie McCoy	Stevens	Offenhauser	Firestone	20	—	4:24.850
21	48	James Edward Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	21	—	4:25.200
22	22	Marshall Pleasant Teague	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	22	—	4:25.250
23	83	Michael Nazaruk	Turner	Offenhauser	Firestone	23	—	4:25.280
24	77	George Francis Flaherty	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	24	—	4:25.350
25	2	Royal Richard Rathmann	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	25	—	4:25.360
26	9	Dennis Clayton Nalon	Kurtis Kraft	Novi	Firestone	26	—	4:25.760
27	4	Duane Claude Carter	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	27	—	4:26.140
28	49	Willard Saulsbury Holland	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	28	—	4:21.120
29	51	Robert Charles Sweikert	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	29	—	4:23.020
30	99	Calvin Lee Niday	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	30	—	4:24.520
31	8	James Ernest Bryan	Schroeder	Offenhauser	Firestone	31	—	4:25.760
32	53	James Richard Davies	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	32	—	4:26.150
33	56	John Ashley Thomson	Del Roy	Offenhauser	Firestone	33	—	4:26.150

Qualifying

Column abbreviations (6)

Pos = Qualifying position# = Car numberQ1 = Qualifying 1 best timeQ2 = Qualifying 2 best timeQ3 = Qualifying 3 best timeGap = Gap to pole

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Q1	Q2	Q3	Gap	Laps
1	14	William Vukovich	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	—	—
2	59	Levon Agabashian	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+1.600	—
3	5	John James McGrath	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+3.410	—
4	88	Manuel Leaonedas Ayulo	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+3.830	—
5	32	Andrew Logan Linden	Stevens	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.460	—
6	98	Melvin Eugene Bettenhausen	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.530	—
7	55	Gerald Frederick Hoyt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.100	—
8	21	John Woodrow Parsons	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+1.370	—
9	3	Samuel Dwight Hanks	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+1.630	—
10	92	Rodger Morris Ward	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+1.750	—
11	29	Robert Franklin Scott	Bromme	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+1.820	—
12	16	Arthur Francis Cross	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.050	—
13	41	Leslie Eugene Hartley	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.140	—
14	23	Walter Faulkner	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.420	—
15	38	Don Freeland	Watson	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.900	—
16	97	Charles Joseph Stevenson	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+3.490	—
17	7	Paul Frank Russo	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.150	—
18	62	Travis Leon Webb	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.250	—
19	73	Carl Scarborough	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.700	—
20	12	Ernie McCoy	Stevens	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.720	—
21	48	James Edward Daywalt	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.070	—
22	22	Marshall Pleasant Teague	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.120	—
23	83	Michael Nazaruk	Turner	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.150	—
24	77	George Francis Flaherty	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.220	—
25	2	Royal Richard Rathmann	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.230	—
26	9	Dennis Clayton Nalon	Kurtis Kraft	Novi	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.630	—
27	4	Duane Claude Carter	Lesovsky	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.010	—
28	49	Willard Saulsbury Holland	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+0.990	—
29	51	Robert Charles Sweikert	Kuzma	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+2.890	—
30	99	Calvin Lee Niday	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+4.390	—
31	8	James Ernest Bryan	Schroeder	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+5.630	—
32	53	James Richard Davies	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.020	—
33	56	John Ashley Thomson	Del Roy	Offenhauser	Firestone	—	—	—	+6.020	—

Pos ↑	#	Driver	Constructor	Engine	Tyres	Lap	Time	Gap
1	14	William Vukovich	Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser	Firestone	27	1:06.240	—

Drivers' Championship after Race

Column abbreviations (2)

+/- = Positions gained in standingsChamp = Championship won

Pos ↑	Driver	Pts	+/-	Champ
1	Alberto Ascari	9	0	—
2	William Vukovich	9	+5	—
3	Luigi Villoresi	6	-1	—
4	Arthur Francis Cross	6	+3	—
5	José Froilán González	4	-2	—
6	John Michael Hawthorn	3	-2	—
7	Samuel Dwight Hanks	2	-1	—
8	Duane Claude Carter	2	-1	—
9	Oscar Alfredo Gálvez	2	-4	—
10	John James McGrath	2	-3	—
11	Levon Agabashian	1.5	-5	—
12	Paul Frank Russo	1.5	-5	—

Frequently asked questions

Who won the 1953 Indianapolis 500 1953?

Bill Vukovich won the 1953 Indianapolis 500 1953 for Kurtis Kraft.

Who took pole position for the 1953 Indianapolis 500 1953?

Bill Vukovich started the 1953 Indianapolis 500 1953 from pole position.

Where was the 1953 Indianapolis 500 1953 held?

The 1953 Indianapolis 500 1953 was held at Indianapolis on May 30, 1953.