It’s Indy 500 day, and our thoughts turn to fast cars, the latest automotive tech, the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, and … world-record truck jumping?
That’s what happened today at turn 4 of the Indianapolis 500 race track, when stunt driver and Top Gear star Tanner Faust warmed up the crowd by setting a new jumping distance world record for a 4-wheeled vehicle.
Driving down a huge ramp designed look like a Hot Wheels “V-Drop” track as part of a “Fearless at the 500″ promotion, Faust picked up enough speed to launch his specially modified “Pro 2″ truck a world-record 332 feet. That was more than enough to beat the previous record of 301 feet.
Until the jump took place, Faust’s identity was kept secret. He’d been practicing for months — he tells his story in this video, revealed for the first time earlier today:
And the video teaser that led up to the jump: