Overland Wind Wagon

This image is of one of the strangest cars ever to compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - and appeared in perhaps the most unique major event at ever held at the track - the June 1910 aviation meet. The car was the Overland "Wind Wagon," a special machine for promotional purposes for the Overland Automobile Company.
 
The Wind Wagon joined 11 airplanes the first national aviation show in the United States. It was driven by Carl Baumhofer, the chief equipment tester at Overland. Instead of using a drive train to transfer power to the wheels, the car's engine turned a propellor in the same manner as an airplane. The eight-foot wooden propellor was positioned at the back of the machine, which utilized a stock automobile frame. Top speed of 53 mph even surprised Baumhofer. The Wind Wagon met a Wright Brothers airplane piloted by Walter Brookins, the star of the aviation meet, in an exhibition race. Although the race was anything but "official," Brookins was declared the winner.
 
In this promotional picture Albert Lambert (Lambert-St. Louis Airport), who competed at the Speedway's first competition, the 1909 Balloon race competition, is at the wheel.