Mystery Yellow Driver Revealed as Tanner Foust, Three-Time X Games
Gold Medalist, Takes New Four-Wheeled Vehicle Distance Jump Record,
Exclusive Content on Facebook
INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Today as part of "IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500™," Team
Hot Wheels™ Yellow Driver Tanner Foust successfully landed a
ramp-to-ramp distance jump of 332 feet. Foust, a three-time X Games gold
medalist and professional stunt driver smashed the previous world record
by an impressive 31 feet at the 100th anniversary of the
Indianapolis 500.
Tanner Foust of Team Hot Wheels sets a new world record with a 332 ft. distance jump at the IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 29, 2011, in Indianapolis. (Ross Dettman/AP Images for Mattel)
"Fans witnessed not only a record-breaking jump today, but also an
incredible childhood fantasy come to life which engaged multiple
generations," said Simon Waldron, vice president of marketing for Hot
Wheels®. "Hot Wheels has a deep and rich history in racing that spans
over 40 years and there was no better global stage than the Indy 500 to
create this once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Spectators at the Indy 500 watched anxiously today as a masked mystery
driver sped down a 90 ft. ramp, suspended on an enormous 10-story high
door (100 feet tall) and flew across the infield of the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway. Moments after the jump occurred, 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. The stunt will be nationally televised today at 3:30 PM EDT in a
30-minute ABC Special highlighting various Team Hot Wheels™ stunts,
including the new world record distance jump. Additional
behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Tanner Foust will be
available on Facebook
after the ABC Special. Complete footage of the jump will be available on www.youtube.com/hotwheels
at 4:00 PM EDT.
"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," said Tanner Foust, Team Hot Wheels Yellow Driver.
"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 a professional stunt driver with a record number of top
finishes and thrilling behind-the-wheel moments captured on-screen. In
addition to being a three-time X Games gold medalist and two-time
Formula Drift champion, Foust is also an on-air host for Top Gear USA on
HISTORY. He recently became the first American ever to win a round of
the FIA European Rallycross championship in his Rockstar Energy Drink
Ford Fiesta. 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.
PLEASE VISIT WWW.HOTWHEELSMEDIA.COM
FOR ADDITIONAL PRESS INFORMATION, HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OR
BROADCAST-QUALITY, DOWNLOADABLE B-ROLL.
About the Hot Wheels® Brand
Since 1968, Hot Wheels® has been passionate about creating thrilling
vehicle experiences through innovative product and content. With a fan
base of more than 41 million people, Hot Wheels® is the No. 1 vehicle
property in the United States producing the coolest cars imaginable. The
Hot Wheels® brand began as a line of 16 1:64-scale die-cast vehicles;
today, it has evolved into a true, global lifestyle brand for boys of
all ages with segments that range from aftermarket parts to licensed
apparel to branded digital content from Team Hot Wheels™, a real-life
race crew of professional drivers performing over-the-top stunts. For
consumers to learn more, visit www.HotWheels.com
and www.Facebook.com/HotWheels.
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT - News) (www.mattel.com)
is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys
and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling
brands as Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot
Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica® and Tyco® R/C, as well as
Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide
array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2011, Mattel was named as
one of FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the
fourth year in a row, and also is ranked among Corporate Responsibility
Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." With worldwide headquarters in
El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs approximately 30,000 people in 43
countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations.
At Mattel, we are "Creating the Future of Play."
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MAT-W

Mattel Brands PR
Rachel Cooper, 310-426-4413
rachel.cooper@mattel.com
Bret
Ingraham, 310-648-4283
bret.ingraham@mattel.com
or
Ketchum
PR
Sofia Lombardo, 914-497-2544
sofia.lombardo@ketchum.com
Source: Mattel, Inc.
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