Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway(aka The Brickyard) is what draws visitors to our city. The nickname is due to the track once being covered by bricks. The starting lane still has a strip of brick.
The Indianapolis 500 race is the largest single day sporting event in the world and is held Memorial Day Weekend of every year. The first race was held in 1911. Another big race is the Allstate 400, which is an annual NASCAR race. The Speedway used to host the only Formula 1 race in the USA from 2000-2007. The seating capacity is 257,000 plus there is room for over 100,000 more in the infield area. The track has been a National Historic Site since 1987.
There are a couple of large gift shops for souvenirs too.
The museum is open everyday except Christmas. The hours are 9am to 5pm.
The cost to visit the museum is $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 6-15. Children under 6 are free. You can also take a lap around the track on board a bus for a separate fee of the same ammounts.
The lap was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it!

A visit to the Museum is a must for any fan of racing, but it is also a fun time for folks like me who don't really know too much about it.
I will admit that I am a fan of Milka Duno. What guy wouldn't be?

A visit to the city of Indianapolis wouldn't be complete without a trip to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Hall of Fame Museum. Even if you aren't a huge fan, this is priced resasonably and worth a look. The speedway is listed as a National Historic Landmark with the National Park Service. The track is owned by the Hulman family.

The speedway is located west of the downtown area. I was surprised that it is surrounded by city streets and not out in the open. The entrance to the museum is unique in the fact you drive down and under the track and come up out in the infield area! The bleachers are sitting right next to the road. Parking is free.

It was suggested to us we take the $3 bus tour of the track first. Not a long tour, it is worth the money. When the track is not being used for testing or competition purposes or closed by inclement weather, you board an air-conditioned bus, and listen to narration as the driver circles the famed 2.5 mile track once. You will learn about the speedway from the early years until the present. Points of interest noted were the luxury suites, golf course, the famous "yard of bricks," the familiar tower showing the placing of the cars during the race, the pagoda at the start/finish line, the new safer barriers, and pit road. The bus brings you back to the museum at the end of the tour.

Admission to the museum is also $3 (there is a AAA discount). The building is full of race cars and memorabilia along with cars of yesteryear. Inside the doors, you will find the 500 race cars of A.J. Foyt, Eddie Rickenbacker, Danica Patrick, and other winners of races held at the speedway such as Tony Stewart's Nascar from the Brickyard 400. There is a mock garage of Foyt from back in the 60s. Trophies, helmets, fire suits, and other priceless items with most of the items donated by former participants. Beautifully restored antique cars are displayed along with vehicles built in the Indianapolis area. You can look at the details of the Borg-Warner trophy. Winners of the 500 each May will have their name and likeness engraved on this very large trophy. In the theatre, a 30 minute highlights film is played at no additional charge.

One of the fun things to do is sit in an actual chassis of a 500 race car. For $5, the attendant will take a picture for you to take home. If you have your camera with you, they will allow you to take your own picture. It is actually very interesting seeing first hand just how much room you don't have in one of those race cars.

Each driver inducted into the Hall of Fame is pictured one of the walls. Race fans will recognize names such as Foyt, Andretti, and Unser. On the opposite wall across the museum are pictures of all the winners of the Indy 500.

The Official Trackside Gift Shop is located within the Hall of Fame Museum. This is the place to buy your T-shirts, banners, posters, and other items officially licensed Indy 500, Brickyard 400, and other race merchandise.

As I left, I could just imagine those famous words - "Ladies (if appropriate) and Gentlemen - Start Your Engines" coming over the loadspeakers! This May the track will be alive with action getting ready for the annual running of the Indianapolis 500. Though not a huge fan of the Indy car circuit, I'm really glad we took the time to tour the speedway and museum!