Some of the winning race cars here sit on hydraulic platforms tilted at 45 degrees. That way you can peek straight into the driver’s seat, like a nosy neighbor with a museum ticket.
The building also sits inside a famous racetrack oval, between two turns. I find that wildly unfair to every other museum, which mostly sits next to a parking lot.
The museum’s collection includes more than 200 vehicles and over 55,000 artifacts.
In Indiana, that counts as a serious car collection. In my garage, it would count as a fire code problem.
A recent renovation added a whole mezzanine and a film on an 80-foot screen. Your living room TV may need a pit stop just to recover its confidence.
Winning Cars Tilt Toward You For A Better Look
Plenty of museums keep their treasures behind velvet ropes and far away. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum does something bolder with its champions.
Inside the John H. Holliday Family Indianapolis 500 Winner’s Gallery, winning cars sit on platforms with upgraded lighting. Some rest on hydraulic platforms tilted at a 45-degree angle.
That tilt is the clever part. You can look right down into the cockpit and see where legends actually sat.
The museum holds over 30 Indianapolis 500-winning cars. That’s a lot of victory parked under one roof.
Each car tells a slice of racing history in Indiana. Older machines look tall and narrow, while newer ones hug the floor like they’re hiding from the wind.
Seeing them side by side makes the changes easy to spot. You don’t need to be an engineer to notice the shapes getting sleeker over time.
Bring your phone with a full battery. The angled cars make great photos without anyone climbing on anything.
Take your time in this room before moving on. It’s the heart of the whole place, and it rewards slow, curious eyes.
Race Morning Gets Its Own Giant Movie Moment
Eighty feet. That’s the width of the screen in the Starting Line Experience, and it’s built to make you feel the pre-race buzz.
Front-row show cars sit right in front of you. Massive LED visuals and engine sounds fill the room during a seven-minute film.
The idea is simple and pretty brilliant. It recreates the atmosphere before the Indianapolis 500 starts, minus the traffic jam getting in.
For anyone who has never attended the race, this is a fantastic preview. For longtime fans, it’s like replaying a favorite morning.
Seven minutes goes by fast, so don’t wander off halfway through. The build-up is the whole point, and the payoff lands at the end.
Kids who think museums are boring may change their minds here. Loud engines tend to win arguments with tired legs.
Sound-sensitive guests can grab help too. The museum offers sensory bags with soundproof headphones at the Welcome Center.
Plan this stop as a highlight of your visit. It sets the mood for everything else in the building, and it’s honestly hard to top.
Seven Garages Turn Back The Clock On Racing
Garages usually hold lawn mowers and mystery boxes. The ones in this gallery hold racing history instead.
The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery features seven garages. Each one represents a different era of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Every garage pairs cars with decor from its time. Immersive audio and visual touches help each era feel lived-in and real.
Walking from one garage to the next feels like flipping through a family photo album. Except this family really loves engines.
Watch for a couple of standout artifacts here. The original 1909 Articles of Incorporation for the speedway company are on display.
Janet Guthrie’s bucket hat is here too. She’s a racing pioneer, so that hat carries a lot more weight than its size suggests.
History fans will want extra time in this section. Small details on the walls and shelves are easy to miss if you rush.
Try picking a favorite era as you go. It makes a fun car-ride debate later, especially if everyone in your group chooses differently.
Your Inner Pit Crew Finally Gets A Tryout
Good news for anyone who learns by doing. The Qualifying Zone hands you the job instead of just a sign to read.
This interactive area lets visitors test what it’s like to be a driver, a strategist, or a pit crew member. Each role shows a different side of racing.
Drivers get the glory, sure. Yet races are often won or lost by quick hands and smart choices in the pits.
Trying these roles gives you new respect for the whole team. Suddenly, a few seconds feels like a very long time.
Families will find plenty to keep kids busy here. It’s a great spot to burn off energy after quieter galleries.
Friendly competition is pretty much guaranteed. Someone in your group will claim to be the best, and someone else will demand a rematch.
Plan to visit this zone in the middle of your trip. It breaks up the looking with some hands-on fun.
Leave with bragging rights if you can. Just remember that real pit crews practice for years, so be kind to yourself.
Pucker Up, Because The Bricks Are Waiting
Kissing the ground is usually a sign of a rough flight. At this track, it’s a proud tradition.
The Kiss the Bricks Tour is a 30-minute bus ride with one lap around the famous 2.5-mile oval. It stops at the start-finish line and the iconic Yard of Bricks.
Yes, you can bend down for the classic photo. It’s a little silly, and that’s exactly why it’s so fun.
Track tours require museum admission. Availability can change without notice because of track activity or weather.
When this tour isn’t running, the Victory Podium Tour often steps in. It visits the Garage Area and Gasoline Alley, then ends atop the Victory Podium.
Both options give you a real feel for the track’s size. Seeing the oval up close is very different from watching it on TV.
Check tour options when you arrive or before you go. Flexible plans make this part of the day much easier.
Don’t skip the tour if it’s available. The museum is great, but the bricks are the cherry on top.
Ninety Minutes On A Golf Cart Beats Any Lap
Some people want the quick version. Others want every story, every corner, and every landmark, and they’re ready to ride.
The Golf Cart Tour lasts 90 minutes. Knowledgeable staff guide it, stopping at major landmarks around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It’s offered on select dates from April to October. That makes it a warm-weather treat worth planning around.
Like the other tours, it requires museum admission. It can also change because of track activity or weather.
This tour suits history lovers who ask lots of questions. A longer ride means more time to soak in the details.
The speedway was built in 1909 and is a National Historic Landmark. Seeing those grounds slowly helps that history sink in.
Wear comfortable clothes and check the forecast. Being outside for an hour and a half is more fun when you’re ready for it.
If you visit in spring or summer, look into this one first. It’s the deepest look at the grounds you can get as a visitor.
Tires, Timekeepers, And A Hall Full Of Heroes
Tires rarely get fan mail. Here, they get an entire exhibition, and honestly, they’ve earned it.
The Firestone at the 500 Exhibition runs through November 2026. It highlights Firestone’s long partnership with the speedway through artifacts, tires, and memorabilia.
Nearby, timing gets the spotlight too. The TAG Heuer x Indianapolis Motor Speedway Exhibition runs through October 2026.
It celebrates more than 20 years of TAG Heuer as Official Timekeeper and Score Keeper. In racing, a tiny slice of a second can change everything.
Then there’s the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. It honors legendary drivers, promoters, and car owners who shaped the track.
These exhibits show the many people and partners behind every race. Fast cars need a lot of help to look that easy.
Since two of these shows are temporary, timing matters. Visit before late 2026 if they sound interesting to you.
Fans of trivia will feel right at home. You’ll walk out with a few facts to impress friends at the next race party.
Smart Planning Makes Race Day Dreams Easier
Getting here is half the adventure. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum sits at 4750 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, inside the track between Turns 1 and 2.
Enter through Gate 2 along 16th Street. It’s open 363 days a year, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
From March through October, hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From November through February, it’s 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kids 5 and under get in free. On race event days, you’ll need a separate track ticket to enter the grounds.
Leave backpacks and coolers behind, since they aren’t allowed inside. A limited number of lockers sit in the Welcome Center.
A quiet Wellness Room is available too. It works for nursing parents or anyone needing a calm break.
The museum first opened in May 1956 and moved here in 1976. Its 2025 reopening added 40,000 square feet of exhibit space.
TIME even named it one of the World’s Greatest Places for 2026. Indiana has plenty to brag about, and this belongs near the top.