Hot Wheels Commemorates The 100th Running Of The Indianapolis 500

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hot Wheels® unveiled its take on the Indy 500 Championship Trophy. The custom trophy will be unveiled by Ryan Hunter-Reay at the Indianapolis Children's Museum and will celebrate the past 99 epic Indy races with 99 Hot Wheels cars.  

"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!"

Standing approximately nine feet tall, the Hot Wheels Indy 500 Championship Trophy will feature 99, 1:64 cars, with each car drawing inspiration from the stories, colors and numbers of the winning Indianapolis 500 drivers and cars. From Wilbur Shaw capturing the 1937 checkered flag with his mechanic riding shotgun to Bobby Unser who slept in his car his rookie year in 1963 – each epic victory is represented. The base of the trophy is wrapped with the famed Hot Wheels orange track representing the competition that runs through every car.

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

The trophy will be on display starting May 31, 2016, at The Hot Wheels™ Race to Win™ Exhibit, which runs May 14 – August 13 at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Race to Win Exhibit is a family-friendly filled with hands-on activities designed to demonstrate what makes real race cars go fast. On select days, some visitors will even get to zip race cars down Hot Wheels iconic orange track with famous race car drivers from INDYCAR, stock car, or the NHRA drag racing circuit.

To check out the making of the trophy visit https://youtu.be/9CX9wFP64ls.

About Mattel

The Mattel family of companies MAT is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, Fisher-Price® brands and MEGA® Brands, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2015, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ approximately 31,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.

Contacts:
Hot Wheels
Candice Jacobson
(310) 252-4619
Candice.Jacobson@mattel.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160517/368439

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hot-wheels-commemorates-the-100th-running-of-the-indianapolis-500-300269723.html

SOURCE Mattel