Special Hot Wheels Trophy Commemorates 100th Indianapolis 500 in an Epic Way
This custom Hot Wheels trophy looks good from every angle
Photo: Mattel
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, IndyCar fans are eagerly preparing for the big race in Indiana. This year’s Indianapolis 500 marks the 100th anniversary of the famed race, which carries a legacy of unforgettable performances on the track. This monotonous event, being presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, is the culmination of a century of white-knuckle, high-octane IndyCar racing.
Hot Wheels trophy
Photo: Mattel
As month-long activities and practices are underway at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, special preparations are being made for the momentous occasion.
Diecast model car creator Hot Wheels has crafted a special trophy commemorating the 100th Indianapolis 500. Unveiled in partnership with driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, the trophy features 99 diecast cars inspired by the race’s past winners, such as Ray Harroun’s yellow Marmon Wasp from 1911 and Wilbur Shaw’s unforgettable victory in 1937.
The entire creation stands 9 feet tall and is modeled after the Borg-Warner Trophy presented every year to the Indy 500 winner.
Check Out This Time-Lapse Video of the Hot Wheels Trophy Being Built!
Covered in 1:64 scale metal cars and wrapped in orange tracks, this custom trophy from Hot Wheels perfectly captures the nostalgic excitement and long-standing history the Indianapolis 500 has in motorsports.
Ryan Hunter-Reay winning 2014 Indianapolis 500
Ryan Hunter-Reay proudly unveiled the trophy alongside the trophy’s creators. “My first experience with racing was with Hot Wheels cars, I remember zipping cars down the orange track, and now I watch my two sons do the same,” he said. “Sharing stories from past races with my kids opens up a conversation about hard work, competition and my passion for racing.”
Back in 2014, Hunter-Reay won the Indianapolis 500, a follow-up achievement to his IndyCar Series championship in 2012. The first American to win the Indy 500 since 2006, he drove the #28 DHL Dallara DW12-Honda Indy Turbo V6 for Andretti Autosport that year. His Indy 500 victory was the second-closest finish in the race’s history (a tight 0.0600 seconds).
The Hot Wheels trophy will be on display at the Speedway during the race (May 27-30), but if you don’t make it to the big event, you’ll get to see it on display at the Hot Wheels: Race to Win Exhibit, which runs May 14th to August 13th at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
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