The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is open to the public after the completion of its $60.5 million, 17-month renovation, its first significant renovation in 40 years.
The IMS Museum was closed to the public since November 2023 while undergoing a comprehensive transformation of its space and experiences. Now reopened, visitors of all ages will experience 40,000 square feet of additional space housing new immersive and dynamic experiences, including:
- Seven permanent and three rotating galleries
- The lower level, an area previously restricted to only select tours
- A new mezzanine dedicated to displaying non-vehicle artifacts, including:
- A race suit from three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou
- The NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 trophy
- A piece of the SAFER Barrier to highlight safety innovations at the Speedway
- The “Starting Line Experience,” placing guests in an immersive video space showcasing the pageantry leading up to the start of the "500”
- State-of-the art racing simulators allowing guests to try to qualify for the Indianapolis 500
- A “pit stop challenge” for guests to learn the tools and equipment of the racing trade
The new exhibits and experiences will bring to life the Museum’s vision to create a global destination that provides interactive, immersive and diverse Indianapolis 500 storytelling and educational experiences that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.
“I’m thrilled to welcome guests back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum after a massive renovation that finished on time and under budget,” IMS Museum President Joe Hale said. “With the support of our campaign from Lilly Endowment Inc., the John H. Holliday Family, Penske Foundation, Dyson Foundation, The Heritage Group and countless others, we have made the IMS Museum a cultural destination celebrating the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500.”
Current galleries include The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery, Starting Line Experience, The John H Holliday Family Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery, Mezzanine, Qualifying Zone, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Innovation Workshop, Penske Gallery, The Bobby Rahal Family Gallery (Featured Car Gallery), Best of the Best: The Four-Time Winners (The Chip Ganassi Gallery) and the Track Lounge.
One of the cornerstones of the renovation was ensuring accessibility so all guests felt included. New features include a wheelchair-friendly racing simulator controlled fully by the steering wheel instead of the pedals and a wellness room designed for anybody that needs a quiet, private space, from nursing mothers to those with sensory sensitivities.
The Museum is also working with Kulture City to become Sensory Inclusive™. Sensory bags can be checked out at the Welcome Center and include soundproof headphones, fidget toys, and glasses to reduce light. Signage around the building will indicate “headphone areas” for those with sensitivities to noise.
General admission tickets and memberships for the IMS Museum are now available at imsmuseum.org/tickets/. For more information on the IMS Museum, visit imsmuseum.org.
