Hot Wheels 2008 Gilmore Special 2-Car Set (M3261)

I picked this up a few years back at a swap meet. It's Hot Wheels Gilmore Special 2-car set (M3261). From the box:

Johnny Lightning's 1979 Indy 500 Winner - Rick Mears' #9 Penske/Cosworth

Here is the companion piece for the '79 Ford Mustang Pace Car - number 9 Penske/Cosworth driven to victory by Rick Mears.

Johnny Lightning 1979 Ford Mustang Pace Car

The JL version of the 1979 Ford Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car. I have been lucky in finding these as I wasn't collecting when they were originally released.

Johnny Lightning 1998 Corvette Convertible Pace Car (casting #735)

Wanted to get this up before Memorial Day to commemorate the race, but work and home life intervened. I'm trying to collect all of the Johnny Lightning Pace Cars, and I think I've got most of them. Here is the 1998 Indy 500 Pace Car, a Corvette Convertible.

Hot Wheels 1995 Race Team Series - Hot Wheels 500 (12803)

Here is an offering from the 1995 Mainline - the Hot Wheels 500 that was part of the Race Team series. I really like Indy cars (though even though I've lived in Indianapolis my whole life, I've never seen the race), and I like the Hot Wheels livery. Just wish it had Goodyear tires to match the tampos on the front wing. Pretty sure I got this 2 for a dollar and the Flea Market, so the price was right.

Greenlight's Will Power Indy Car

Here is Greenlight Collectibles' model of Will Power's Indy Car. The real version has a chassis by Dallara and the engine is from Chevy. The Soldiers and Sailors' Monument is a resin casting I picked up this past summer. Not to scale, but iconic of Indianapolis.

Racing Champions 1994 Indy 500 Winner - Al Unser, Jr.

I'm a life-long resident of Indianapolis, and I've never seen a race at the Indy 500. I've been to the track a number of times, including the museum, but I've never even bothered to watch the highlights of a race. And when I was a kid, the month of May was huge - I had paper routes, and news stories began in April announcing which teams were showing up, what practices were like, etc. As a car enthusiasts and a Hoosier, I do like Indy cars, though. Here is Racing Champions 1994 Indy 500 Winner - Al Unser, Jr. who drove #31 Malboro to first place for Team Penske.

Basement Bessie

In honor of the 98th Indianapolis 500 held today, some photos I snapped while passing through the Indianapolis Airport. Photos taken at the Colonel H. Weir Cook Terminal.

The Russo-Nichels Special, affectionately known as Basement Bessie. A good synopsis of its history can be found here: http://speedwaysightings.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/the-russo-nichels-special-aka-basement-bessie/

Although I grew up in Indianapolis, I am not really a racing fan. Didn't find out until I was writing this post that the car, indeed built in a basement, was fabricated in Hammond, IN, not far from where my wife grew up.