Bill Vukovich won his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 on this day in 1954. His dominant victory in the heat-stricken race the year before had already confirmed him as one of US racing's greatest stars – and helped usher in the roadster era, as Gordon Kirby explains in today's Great Read
When the flag waved to start the 1953 Indianapolis 500 it was already an infernally hot and humid day with the temperature in the mid-30s centigrade. At the time part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was still paved in the original bricks, making for a rough ride, and over the course of 500 miles the heat and the hammering took their toll.
More than 100 fans and 15 drivers were treated for heat prostration during the day, and only five drivers made the finish without pulling in for relief. In these conditions Bill Vukovich drove without any thought to score a dominant win.
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