Hot Wheels Commemorates 100th Indianapolis 500 with Trophy Full of Stories Die-Cast Cars

Hot Wheels, the iconic maker of scale die-cast toy cars for nearly a half-century, is helping commemorate the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil with the unveiling today of the Hot Wheels Indy 500 Championship Trophy.

Based on the famed Borg-Warner Trophy that features the likeness of every Indianapolis 500 race winner, the Hot Wheels trophy celebrates the past 99 Indy 500s with Hot Wheels vehicles that draw inspiration from the stories, colors and numbers of the winning drivers and cars from each year.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 champion from Andretti Autosport, introduced the Hot Wheels trophy today. It will be part of the Hot Wheels Race to Win exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from May 31-Aug. 13.

“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,” Hunter-Reay said. “Sharing stories from past races with my kids opens up a conversation about hard work, competition and my passion for racing.” 

Standing approximately 9 feet tall, the Hot Wheels Indy 500 Championship Trophy has 99 one-64th scale cars representing each of the previous Indianapolis 500 races. The base of the trophy is wrapped with the famed Hot Wheels orange track representing the competition that runs through every car.

“All 99 cars featured on this trophy have an authentic Indy 500 story," said Chris Down, senior vice president and general manager, Hot Wheels. "Most of them are about the journey, not the win. For kids and adults that is exactly what Hot Wheels play is about. Everyone has a Hot Wheels story!"

Watch here to see how the Hot Wheels Indy 500 Championship Trophy was made: