Publisher: Pelican Publishing Co.

 The real 500-Mile Race was never this funny. And no race car driver who ever crossed the finish line at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was any more determined to win than Justin Potemkin, an ambitious hare whose grandfather lost the famous tortoise-hare race.

In "Justin Potemkin and the 500-Mile Race," Peter Welling sprinkles in knowledge of the great race, along with witty plays on words and clever dialogue. He teaches writing and illustration in the Continuing Education Program at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

The story begins many years ago in Russia, where our hero competes in an annual auto race against Czar Mos Romoonoff, a cow who always wins, usually by cheating. Welling's whimsical animal characters are set against a colorful background filled with cartoon-like characters and clever details.

With the wily czar bent on winning by any means, the fun begins. He throws tacks on the track, making the German car blow a tire and crash into a golf course. "Ach du lieber, look at my tires! There is a hole in one," Garret von Garret shrieks.

Potemkin's car runs out of gas just before the finish line, and Czar Mos goes on to win. In disgust, Potemkin heeds the advice of friends and heads to Indianapolis, where they build a brick track and win many races. "500" trivia is scattered throughout this section, from "IRL by George" to "Hulman Dr." As with any morality tale, the good guy wins in the end, beating Mos and Lenin on his own turf.

No child who plays with fast-car replicas and listens as adults discuss the race every May will be able to resist Justin Potemkin.