STORY OF THE DAY— Ascari Wins Amid Chaos in Buenos Aires: The 1953 Argentine Grand Prix was the first Formula One World Championship race ever held in South America. Reigning World Champion Alberto Ascari started from pole in this Ferrari 500 F2 and dominated from beginning to end, winning by a full lap over teammate Luigi Villoresi. José Froilán González finished third for Maserati, while local hero Juan Manuel Fangio retired with a transmission problem.

But the race is remembered for far more than Ascari’s victory. An enormous crowd descended on the new Buenos Aires circuit, with estimates running into several hundred thousand spectators. The circuit became dangerously overcrowded, with people standing only feet from the racing surface and even moving onto the track.

During the race, Giuseppe Farina swerved to avoid a spectator and crashed his Ferrari into the crowd. Other incidents followed amid the confusion. More than a dozen spectators were killed, although contemporary accounts disagree on the final number. Astonishingly by modern standards, the race continued.

Ascari remained untouched by the chaos and completed another extraordinary performance. At the height of his career, he had arrived in Argentina as the 1952 World Champion and would successfully defend his title in 1953.

He won by a lap. That the race was ever allowed to continue is almost impossible to comprehend today.