Foust sets new record with 101m jump at Indy 500

This year's Indianapolis 500 was entertaining enough in its own right, particularly with rookie JR Hildebrand crashing within sight of the chequered flag, but America being America there's always a need for a bit of extra razzamatazz.

For this year's event that was provided by three-time X Games gold medallist and professional stunt driver Tanner Foust, who set a new world record with a ramp-to-ramp jump of 101m.

The jump (watch the video here) was a promotional stunt backed by Hot Wheels, which created a ramp mimicking the V-Drop track set that's peddled in toy stores around the world.

The identity of Foust was initially kept secret, as he was referred to simply as the "Mystery Yellow Driver" in the lead-up to and during the audacious jump, with which he eclipsed the previous world record by 9.5m.

Spectators at the Indy 500 (the 100th anniversary of the iconic race) watched anxiously as the masked mystery driver sped down a 27.5m ramp, suspended on an enormous 10-storey high (30m tall) mock door and flew across the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Moments after the jump was successfully completed, Foust was revealed as the mystery Team Hot Wheels Yellow Driver.

"The 'IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500' jump brought to life the iconic Hot Wheels V-Drop track set boys have played with on their bedroom doors for years," said Simon Waldron, vice president of marketing for Hot Wheels.

"Fans witnessed not only a record-breaking jump today, but also an incredible childhood fantasy come to life which engaged multiple generations."

Foust added: "As a kid playing with Hot Wheels I could only dream of experiencing something as outrageous as a life-sized V-Drop track set, and today it became reality."

"There's a lot that goes into being on Team Hot Wheels and the training and testing leading up to the jump gave me the confidence needed to push the mechanical and mental limits of the challenge and land the world-record title."

Foust is hardly a rookie at this caper as his professional stunt driving credits include Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, Bourne Ultimatum, Iron Man 2, and the remake of Red Dawn.

He's also a two-time Formula Drift champion and recently became the first American ever to win a round of the FIA European Rallycross championship in his Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta. In addition, he's an on-air host for Top Gear USA.

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