Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum sits on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the town of Speedway, Indiana, and preserves the history of American open-wheel and other motor racing. The museum is co-located with one of the world’s best-known racecourses, the 2.5-mile oval that hosts the Indianapolis 500.

Exhibits display historic race cars, trophies, photographs and related artifacts that document the track’s role in auto racing. Visitors commonly combine a museum visit with a guided Speedway tour to see the Pagoda, grandstands and the start/finish line.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway itself was built in 1909 by a group of local investors including Carl G. Fisher, Arthur Newby and James Allison; the museum was established subsequently to collect and interpret the track’s history and memorabilia. Over time the facility has grown to include rotating exhibits and educational displays about the sport.

The museum and Speedway are in the town of Speedway, a short drive northwest of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, and are accessed from local arterial roads and event parking on race days.

• Exhibit focus: Many exhibits include cars that won the Indianapolis 500 and other major American open-wheel and stock-car events, giving a chronological view of technological change in racing.
• Visitor access: Guided tours of the Speedway commonly pair with museum admission and allow visitors to see the start/finish line and infield areas from designated viewing points.

What to See #

• Museum collection: Located on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the museum houses rotating exhibits of historic race cars, trophies and racing artifacts documenting the history of the Indianapolis 500 and other events held at the track.
• Track and Pagoda: The Speedway complex includes the 2.5-mile oval track and the Pagoda, both of which are visible on guided tours that are commonly combined with a museum visit.