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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum celebrates the history of auto racing.
Indianapolis is the Racing Capital of the World—and for good reason! Every year, thousands of racing fans from around the globe make the pilgrimage to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). This iconic racetrack hosts high-speed events, drives automotive innovation, and embodies the history of racing in the United States.
From IndyCar to NASCAR, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a legend in the world of motorsports. The IMS is both the oldest continually operating racetrack and the world’s largest sports seating facility. So, it’s the venue of choice for major racing events like the Indy 500! The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is the largest single-day sporting event in the world and a true Indianapolis tradition. The whole community comes together and celebrates with concerts, a mini-marathon, and a vibrant festival in downtown Indianapolis.
Since its construction in 1909, the IMS has been a cornerstone of the automotive industry. Now, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum gives you the opportunity to explore that history for yourself, right on the legendary IMS grounds!
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is one of the most highly renowned automotive museums in the world. The museum’s collection contains over 55,000 artifacts, including more than 300 vehicles, 200 works of art, and two million feet of film. And while you’re there, you can even take a picture behind the wheel of a real IndyCar!
“I have loved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1962, when as a boy I watched my first Indy 500 with my father…. [The Museum’s] extensive collection of Indy cars and related artifacts, stretching back to the earliest years of the Speedway, provides an immersive experience of the Speedway’s and the sport’s heritage.”
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum honors racing’s most famous names.
One of the museum’s permanent exhibits is the IMS Hall of Fame, which celebrates the people who shaped racing history. These famous figures include outstanding drivers, mechanics, engineers, journalists, racing officials, and other influential people.
Each year, a panel of nearly 150 racing officials and journalists selects two new inductees for the Hall of Fame. The selection committee votes from 14 distinguished nominees and then honors the new members at the annual Induction Ceremony. In 2020, the panel selected Janet Guthrie and Dale Earnhardt, who pushed the envelope and elevated the sport of racing.
Visitors to the museum can explore the halls and discover the stories behind racing’s greatest legends. From early innovators to modern-day heroes, there are currently over 150 people in the IMS Hall of Fame. So, get ready to learn about the record-breakers and game-changers that made racing the global phenomenon it is today!
Tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and see behind the scenes.
Whether or not you’re a racing fan, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an impressive sight to behold. From the towering Pagoda to the 2.5-mile racetrack, the Speedway is a landmark location just waiting for you to explore. So, the IMS Museum offers guided tours that bring you behind the scenes of the most iconic IMS sites. Their most popular tour option is the Kiss The Bricks Tour.
During the tour, you can take a lap around the racetrack and stop at the world-famous Yard of Bricks. In 1909, the Speedway was originally built with 3.2 million paving bricks. Now, all of those have been covered in asphalt, except for a three-foot strip of exposed bricks on the track’s finish line. Since NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett won the Brickyard 400 in 1996, it’s been an IMS tradition to kneel down and kiss the Yard of Bricks after a win. So, this tour gives you the chance to kiss the bricks yourself!
Other tour options take you past the landscaped walkway of Pagoda Plaza and through Gasoline Alley, the garage area for all the race teams. And if you have two hours for an in-depth adventure, you can buckle up for a Golf Cart Tour of the grounds, giving you unparalleled access to the Speedway facilities and locations. This tour also includes a one-on-one discussion with one of the museum’s expert tour guides as they show you areas that are normally restricted to the public.
See for yourself why Indianapolis is the Racing Capital of the World.
Every year, the Indy region comes alive with the roar of engines! From MotoAmerica to our namesake IndyCar, racing is built into the Hoosier DNA—and nowhere is that more obvious than at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is a historic tribute to the innovation and ambition that drive the world of racing both on and off the track. So, whether you’re cheering in the Indy 500 stands or just want to witness a glimpse of history, the Speedway is your ticket to high-speed adventures, with the museum shining a light on a century of memories.