Vintage Indianapolis 500 cars on display at Indianapolis International Airport

INDIANAPOLIS – With the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 only a month away, the latest in a series of vintage, eye-catching Indianapolis 500 race cars are on display at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND). The classic cars will greet passengers through October 2014.

1950 RUSSO–NICHELS SPECIAL

Affectionately known as "Basement Bessie," this car was built in the winter of 1949-50 by driver Paul Russo and chief mechanic Ray Nichels in the basement of Russo's home in Hammond, Indiana. Upon completion, it had to be partially dismantled in order to move it to the ground floor. Nevertheless, after being driven by Russo to 9th place in the 1950 Indianapolis 500, it won 100-mile dirt track National Championship races in the hands of Russo and Bill Schindler, and also the 1950 season-ending Darlington 200 with Johnnie Parsons. Also driven by Sam Hanks, Johnny Thomson and others, the venerable old car passed through several owners and was still competing in National Championship events as late as 1965

Chassis: Russo & Nichels

Engine: 270-cubic-inch Offenhauser

The car is on display on Concourse A near the exit to Civic Plaza.

1962 MICKEY THOMPSON HARVEY ALUMINUM SPECIAL

Greatly influenced by the 9th-place finish of Jack Brabham’s lightweight, rear-engined Cooper-Climax in the 1961 Indianapolis 500, legendary “hot rodder” Mickey Thompson decided to build three similar cars of his own for 1962. Constructed by former Lotus engineer John Crosthwaite, the Thompson cars weighed only 1,190 pounds. They were powered by 255-cubic-inch V8 aluminum block Buick engines, capable of producing 330 horsepower. Only one of the three started, Grand Prix driver Dan Gurney qualifying 8th and completing 96 laps before being eliminated by a transmission failure. The car was restored in 2002 by Danny Thompson, Mickey’s son.

Chassis: Thompson

Engine: Buick V8

Bore: 3.625

Qual. speed: 147.886 mph

Finish: 20th

Entrant: Mickey Thompson Enterprises

Displacement: 255 cubic inches

Stroke: 3.089

Start: 8th

Laps completed: 92 (rear end failure)

The car is on display on Concourse B near the exit to Civic Plaza

About the Indianapolis Airport Authority

The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport, its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport, and Metropolitan Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in 2010, 2012, and 2013 in Airports Council International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus, and the airport has won additional recognition for excellent customer service, concessions programs, and art and architecture.

IND’s economic impact in Central Indiana is more than $4.5 billion annually, and about 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves more than 7 million business and leisure travelers each year and averages 138 daily flights to 34 nonstop destinations. Home of the world's second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility, IND is committed to becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at Indianapolis International Airport and Twitter page at @INDairport.