Thief blasts through showroom window in Indy 500 pace car

Bill Estes said he could only muster a bewildered smile when people asked about the shocking and destructive scene that played out at his car dealership Wednesday night.

A man broke into the dealership, stole the keys to a replica Indy 500 Chevrolet Camaro pace car and — with security alarms blaring and the convertible top down — drove through a two-story glass showroom window, police said.

The white convertible, bedecked with the Indianapolis 500 logo, flew over a 3-foot staircase and landed on the ground before the driver took off, leaving a mess of shattered glass in his wake. Police are still searching for the man.

The $50,000 car was ruined. The showroom window, which could cost up to $75,000 to replace, was destroyed.

"This is the most bizarre thing we have ever had happen at our business," Estes said.

Summoned by the alarm company, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers went to the Bill Estes Chevrolet at 4105 West 96th St. around 11:30 p.m. and found the shattered glass window, a police report said.

Authorities in Boone County later found the severely damaged vehicle near Zionsville in the area of Ford Road and Irishman's Run Lane, according to a press release from the Boone County Sheriff's Office. The abandoned car was towed back to the dealership.

Estes said he is shocked the thief could drive that far.

"He drove through a front window with steel frames, down a 3-foot set of stairs with a 3-foot drop, and landed," Estes said, noting that the convertible's top was down. "He destroyed the suspension in the car."

Shards of glass lay in the car Thursday. It had cracks in the windshield and a large chunk missing from the bumper.

Blood also was spattered about, Estes said.

Police set up a perimeter Wednesday night to search for the suspect, a man who was likely on foot, injured and possibly shirtless.

Officers heard reports of a shirtless man knocking on doors in the area asking for shelter, the IMPD police report said.

Cleaning crews told police they believed the man broke into the dealership just after they left for the night around 11:15 p.m., the report said. Officers were still searching for the suspect Thursday, Boone County authorities said.

The car was one of the replica pace cars used by dignitaries during the Indy 500 festivities in May.

Estes said the vehicle was one of 100 cars given to various dealerships. It was the only pace car his dealership had.

"It's obviously a pretty special vehicle," Estes said.

Estes said he has no idea who might have stolen the car. But he said he believes it was someone who had been inside the dealership because the thief appeared to know his way around.

Estes said he thinks the man was watching the cleaning crew and broke into the building when they left.

While Estes works to repair the damage, the dealership remains open.

"I guess I feel violated," Estes said. "This is our second home."

Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.