Indy and Indycar go hand in hand, each one improving each other. Their story is documented in the IMS museum. Located in the heart of the racetrack, you can find a hundred years worth of racing gear, cars, and photos that document the evolution of the sport. The museum has been newly renovated in the past couple years and the experiences help you feel connected to the racing culture in the city. If NASCAR is more your speed (because they're not as fast as Indycars), they have a wing for that as well. Admission is around $20 per person, but students enter for $7 with ID. You can walk around at your own pace. I think I spent about 2-2.5 hours here and I am one to read about 2/3 of plaques at museums. One really cool thing worth doing if you have the time is to do a track tour. There is an extra cost, but you can drive around the oval and learn about the construction of the track and the surrounding areas within the Speedway. I went on one that stopped at the Brickyard, a stretch of 3 feet that still has the original bricks on display at the Tag Heuer pagoda. You can even kiss the bricks if you want! This review is a little out of date, but that just means I'm closer to my next visit! read more

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Enjoyed my first visit to renovated IMS Museum. I have only seen the museum in pictures prior to the renovations, and the updates modernized the facility and upgraded the user experience quite a bit. When you first enter the museum, you stroll through a mock-up of the garages in gasoline alley. There are racecars from every era. The next stop is an open space with a surround video of the Indy500 experience. This would be a nice recap to anyone who has never been to the race. Finally you enter the main museum with three levels of exhibits. There are of course racecars, but also trophies, helmets, and other memorabilia related to the race and the track. I think race fans and non-fans alike would enjoy a visit to the IMS Museum. There is plenty to see and many things to look at with historical significance. It is also a good place to host events, especially for out-of-towners. read more

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I could not care less about cars or racing or the Indianapolis 500, but I had a good time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Keep in mind that I visited after the museum underwent a huge remodel. It's all new inside as of 2025. For people who do care about cars and racing and the Indianapolis 500, this place is heaven. There is so much Indy 500 history to enjoy in every exhibit on each of the three floors. There are real historic Indy cars and pace cars, plus information about other details, like the sportscasters who call the race. When you first enter the museum, there's a short 6-7 minute video about the Indy 500. It's cool because the video is super immersive: you're surrounded by images and sounds. Kids can sit on the floor, or you can sit by one of the Indy cars in the room. There's a special area just for kids, with interactive, hands-on exhibits. The other galleries, though, have signs everywhere reminding people not to touch the cars. But they're so shiny! It's almost like they want to be touched! But no -- no touching. You can take all of the photos that you want, though. There's a very nice gift shop as you exit, with t-shirts of all kinds and other souvenirs. The IMS Museum isn't huge, but if you wanted to, you could spend a good hour or more here. read more

First time visiting. Learned a lot about the history of the track and the race. Lots of cars. Trophies, rings, driver suits, helmets etc. plus core samples of the track over the years. The interactive area was cool. Can see how the pit crew works, all the different parts of the cars, and video racing. If you're visiting Indy you should go. They also have tours of the track, which we didn't do, but will bring out of town guests. Fun afternoon! read more

Our first visit, and we were not disappointed. The museum was really interesting. There is a lot of history, as well as current information. We also did the 'kiss the bricks tour' and enjoyed that also. The guide was informative and friendly (Bernie). The gift shop had a lot of really neat items, not just about the museum, but about racing as well. It did not disappoint. read more

They recently renovated the IMS Museum and they did a terrific job. I don't even like racing and I was impressed. I enjoyed seeing the old cars and learning about the history of the track and the race. There was a cool video that played on a screen that also had a ceiling screen. It was cool to see and hear the video of the stealth bombers flying over the Speedway with that ceiling screen. Admission is $25. They also offer tours of the track. read more

GREAT COLLECTION OF INDY CARS & MEMORABILIA ========================================== My husband and I visited the Indy Motor Speedway Museum on Monday, August 11, 2025. The museum celebrates and preserves the history behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. We only spent a couple hours at the museum, but it would be easy to spend a lot more time. The Museum is located inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway so you can see the track from various spots, including inside the museum. You can park for free, but try to avoid during races or private events as you will have to park somewhere else. My son and daughter-in-law live in Indy, so hopefully we will go to a race at some point. read more

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This museum is located within the Motor Speedway. When you get to the gate, there was this very friendly and welcoming guard that points you where to park when you are visiting and looking to go to the museum. I'm not the biggest racing fan so I was on the fence of actually going inside the museum. But once I got to the speedway and saw some cars taking some laps. I got a little curious and took a look inside the museum itself. There I decided to actually pay and explore the museum. Boy am I glad I did! Lots of cool stuff to see. The museum feels modern and clean. There's also some areas where you can interact. I don't wanna go on too much about it, because it's something that you should experience yourself. I will say that I was also a big fan of the starting line experience. Cool imagery and loud sounds to make you feel like you're at the race. Really glad I got to experience this place. read more

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An excellent family-friendly experience! As a lifelong Indy500 fan I had been to the museum many times over the years but this was my first visit after the big remodeling project. What a beautiful museum! If you are a fan of Motorsport history you will love this museum. There is educational information from pre-Indy 500 times including the planning and construction of the track, balloon races, and information about the founders of the speedway. There are interactive features for children and families, but parents need to be aware that there are many displays that are "don't touch." These are valuable historical vehicles and not for children to sit in or play on. There are museum workers who will remind children not to sit in or touch the cars and other items, so let your children know ahead of time. Well behaved children will enjoy this museum. Besides Indycars there are also some NSACAR vehicles and a limited amount of F1 and MotoGP information. There is a short movie that children (and adults) will enjoy in a state-of-the-art theater. It seems that many local residents have not yet experienced this amazing museum, while other people travel from many states and even foreign countries to see it. If you have never been here definitely check it out. read more

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If you are into racing this is the place to visit. For an extra charge they will take you around the track. You can also get out of the bus and experience the size of the track. read more

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1.14.26 I've lived in Indianapolis for over 20 years, and gone to the 500 a few times, but have never been to this museum. It's recently been renovated, so I don't know what it was like before, but now it's a beautiful and amazing collections of history, cars, uniforms, trophies and rings, a walk-through broadcasting of the race, and even driving simulators. If you are a racing fan, this is a must-do. My only caveat (and 4 stars instead of 5), is that many cars, etc. are "do not touch" - so be aware with children. And there was a small interactive section for kids, but what I saw was very small. (I'm not sure if the renovations are completely done, that could be an area for more fun built in). But if you are an adult race fan and want to soak in race history, then you will be in heaven. read more

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Visited the museum a week before the Indianapolis 500. They recently had a 90 million dollar renovation and you can see it in all the details from race car displays, interactive exhibits, multi media experiences and historical exhibits. I appreciated the ADA shuttles and ADA accessibility of the museum and the great view of the racetrack from the front of the museum. It was great and educational trip to visit the museum before our visit to the racetrack. Highly recommend as a 2-3 hour day trip if visiting from out of town. read more

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This place is so nice! It was just recently renovated, and they have done a really great job in featuring a large number of cars, as well as trophies, uniforms, tickets, programs, anything Indy 500, brickyard 400, F1, Indy racing series stuff etc. they have a cool hands-on area with simulated racing,, pick crew activities, and so much more. Lots of fun for kids of all ages Three different levels of exhibits. Cars all the way back from the wasp all the way up until recent winners. Starts out with a really cool video based on the race a couple years ago. Very cool there's also a gift shop at the end with all kinds of cool stuff. Highly recommend if you're in the Indianapolis area. read more

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The new IMS Museum is mind blowing. I'm not really a huge race fan, but the museum is awesome with something for everyone. The new expansive facility offers history of IMS and a bit of fun. There were a lot of people visiting the museum today, but it didn't seem crowded because exhibits are spread out and there's so much to see. The galleries are upscale with close up views of cars and memorabilia. Guides along the route provide interesting information. There is an interactive area with driving and pit crew simulators. The track driving simulator was an awesome and exciting experience. A room with legos and other construction puzzles was filled with creative young minds. I enjoyed seeing the evolution of the cars and learning about the drivers. There is a gallery dedicated to drivers who have won four races. There is so much to see and do. Admission is $25 with special pricing for seniors, military and kids. Parking is free. Additional fees get you a tour of the track with an opportunity to kiss the bricks. There is a gift shop at the end of the route to pick up logo shirts, flags, model cars and more. Downstairs there was a grab and go snack bar with limited snacks. The restroom facilities with ultra modern and spotless. Plan two hours (more if you like to read everything). There's a lot of walking but plenty of elevators if needed. Well worth a visit and a must see if you are a race fan. This is a great place to bring visitors. read more

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INCREDIBLE time at IMS museum. I am not sure what it looked like before the renovations but it is absolutely incredible now. Loved the layout and the interactive parts! So so fun and I will 100% bring visitors here!!! read more

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It's been years since I've been to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (when I lived in Indiana), but my friends recommended we visit the newly renovated museum when I was in town for a visit. I'm so glad they did! It brought back some wonderful memories and the museum itself is top notch. It was recently remodeled in April 2025. Once you enter, you find yourself in various "Gasoline Alley" representations over the years as well as history of the 500, NASCAR, the Brickyard and F1 racing. In total, it has three levels of amazing exhibits. We started on the lower level and worked our way up. There are museum gallery guides throughout the facility ready to answer any questions and provide you with background history. One guide in particular was very knowledgeable. His name was Greg. He explained the lower level was previously used for storage and now it is filled with race cars of various decades. He stated the lower level will also be used for special limited exhibitions, such as the race cars of the women drivers scheduled for this Fall. This level also has a special section devoted to the four drivers that have won the 500 race four times - AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Helio Castroneves. The other two levels are filled with various displays of driver gear, championship rings, newspaper clippings and trophies, plus interactive areas and so much more. The Starting Line movie experience is also impressive, especially if you have been to a 500 race in the past. This museum showcases the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" of the Indianapolis 500 and various other races proudly! Whether you are a race fanatic or a novice, you will enjoy the experience of this museum. Well done, indeed! read more

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Great museum, with so much variety and interactive displays. It's relatively expensive but worth it, at least once. I've now been there twice. read more

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum - A.J. Foyt's first (of 4) Indy 500 winning car, The Bowes Seal Fast Special. - Museums Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The newly renovated museum is a wonder to behold, and I'm not necessarily a race fan. Starting in Gasoline Alley, the history of the 500 race and displays are historically detailed. Then a 7 minute 3-D film is shown in a large room - don't miss this! You can test your driving skills on race car simulators and get a feel for the speed and skill it takes to drive an Indy 500 car. Hands on activities for the kids. Tons of displays including drivers rings, 500 winners cars, souvenir tickets and newspaper accounts of the race, and the Borg Warner trophy. There is an elevator or take the stairs through 3 levels of fun! Admission $25 general, $23 Senior, $18 military and youth. read more

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I've never been to the Indy 500, but once attended the Time Trials thanks to a vendor - first class! My late husband was so happy to be up close and personal with drivers and more. This trip to the museum brought back lots of memories of that ds read more

I visited for a work outing and while I am not at fan of racing as a sport I love the race culture is Speedway, In. I and and Indianapolis native and live very close to IMS. Over the years I have been to the Indy 500 twice and this was my first visit to the museum. I was very impressed! It was super cool, modern and spacious. My 7 yr loved the interactive exhibit, they have a race car simulation where you drive around the IMS track as well as playing with the race themed legos. Overall it was a fun visit and a cool place to visit for race fans. read more

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This was our 1st trip to the museum since it reopened. All the updates and new layouts are awesome. The new innovation center is cool with fun stuff for both kids and adults. You will want to watch the film from the beginning. I'm not giving anything away. There is even a car you can get in for pictures. Great for kids who have been told not to touch all day. There are additional tours if you want to get out onto the track and kiss the bricks. The volunteers are awesome. Lots of knowledge and great with kids. Just go! read more

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What a makeover has done for this place! If you like racing or just cars, you're going to love it here. The galleries are gorgeous but 2 spaces stood out to me. The starting line experience is a short film with 3D visuals that highlight all the hoopla of pre race--flyovers, bands, bagpipes and the start of 33 engines. It definitely made us want to go buy tickets to the race again. Then another gallery is all interactive displays from changing a tire at a pit stop to doing 4 laps around the track complete with crashes and a shaking car and a hard to handle steering wheel. What fun. You can add on a kiss the bricks your around the track, but having done that during several Mini Marathons, I opted out. This was a fun day to explore my city and see the million dollar renovation! read more

We visited to see what had changed with the renovation and wow! This is a completely different and much larger museum. The exhibits are on 3 levels and I really liked how they tied driver and owner stories in with the cars because, for me..,I can only look at so many engines before I start to zone out. They even had an interesting exhibit that showed how they add on the driver faces to the Borg Warner trophy. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. They have some interactive areas too which we steered clear of as they seemed to be pretty popular with large groups of small children. We added on the "Kiss the Bricks" tour which was really nice; the little buses do a lap around the track and you get about 10-15 minutes to get out at the bricks to take pictures and walk around talking pictures and just appreciating the vastness of the track. I have run by here in the mini marathon many times but it was nice to be able to just look around not halfway through a half marathon. Definitely a fun place to visit with family over the holiday weekend! We spent about 2-1/2 hours here but serious fans could probably end up spending over 3 hours so do make sure to plan on enough time. Parking is free as long as there isn't an event at the track the day of your visit. read more

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Since 1977 I have been coming to this museum off and on. Also, I volunteer in various capacities at another top rated automobile museum. This may be a brief review for I left it up to the reader to discover the exhibits they find interesting. I will hit the highlights, though. It is also based on the new renovation that was accomplished. First - What I did not like - it was overload. We were there for the SVRA races and were torn between spending all day in the museum or seeing enough so we could see cars on the track. If you really wanted to see all the videos, review all the interactives, read everything AND scan the QR codes for "more information" you should show up when they unlock the doors and leave when they kick you out. While Penske owns the track and has been super successful, an entire hall dedicated to him seemed much. There could have been more recognition of the diversity present at the track over the years. In short, we were blown away by the quality of the exhibits. I leave it to the reader to look up the website and see what exhibits interest you and concentrate on them if you cannot spend a full day. Things we liked were the inclusion of NASCAR and F1. The Staring Line Experience was so great, we watched it twice. In one of the galleries, they improved traffic flow and showcased some cars at an angle to the viewer. Very nice. Make sure you find the lounge because it is there that they have an holographic map that shows the growth of the facility. Go. Enjoy it based on your timeline. If I lived closer, I would get a membership and go as often as I do the museum I volunteer at. read more

The newly renovated museum is GORGEOUS. Beyond impressed with the layout, displays, and interactive exhibits at this museum. The movie played in the beginning cannot be missed. The biggest thing I was impressed by was how kind every employee I interacted with was. This staff is knowledgeable, patient, and excited to share their love of racing. This speedway historical sight should not be missed by people coming to visit and should be an annual tradition for locals. read more

It's ok. Much, much, much more expensive than my first visit. Used to be 3$ with volunteer employees. Back then the only museum employees were the ones collecting money for tickets. Now 23$ (that's with a senior discount), museum employees are now paid, they all seem to be security, they all follow and track you as you walk the museum... and they vastly outnumber visitors. One of them told me, they aren't security, they are there to answer questions. We asked questions... we were embarassed but polite when employees gave nonsensical answers. Many are uninformed and have no idea of what they are talking about. Not sure what value is added by having museum employees constantly following, monitoring as we visited the museum, or giving us cutesie, incorrect, nonsensical answers to our questions. Used to be a large, interesting museum focused on cars... regardless of series. Now it is a much smaller museum, focused on IndyCar only, with more interactive displays. Not sure if this was an upgrade. For the the crazy increase in ticket price and way more interaction with museum employees than I want (they are there to answer questions, they are not security)... for sure not worth the visit. read more

Always a great experience coming here. Informative, well made. Deeply appreciate the sentiment and ambiance.

IMS..... Home of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing! Going to the race is a tradition every May started by my father..... continued now by taking my lovely bride. IMS is steep in traditions. The cannon opening the Speedway at 6:00..... the balloons launched (now on hold due to environmental concerns)..... The Purdue marching band..... the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana ...... National Anthem...... Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we remain free..... and too much more to list. The sights and sounds and of course the race. The crossing of the yard of bricks with the checkered flag waving for the winner..... the drinking of the milk for the new champion and the presentation of the BorgWarner Trophy..... the winner taking a lap to thank the fans..... and kissing the . If you've never attended..... I'd highly recommend it. read more

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We are local and have been going to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum since we were children and we are now in our 50s. We took our grown children to the museum today. None of us had been since the new renovations and we were absolutely delighted! Very modern museum with great exhibits, a seven minute video that is absolutely spine tingling and an interactive area that entertains both children and adults alike - worth the the cost to spend an afternoon. We also opted for the winners circle tour and it was magical to get the opportunity to actually go up on the winners stand and take in the track in all its glory - they're just aren't words to describe. You also get the opportunity with this tour to go into the media center which was exciting too. Exceeded expectation. I highly recommend for guests to our city as well as locals to check out.The staff was knowledgeable, helpful and wonderful ambassadors for IMS. Kudos to those who made possible. read more

We had a very disappointing experience at this museum. In the gift shop, the cashier abruptly demanded that my 8-year-old stop bouncing a small golf ball. There are kinder ways to redirect children. She also sat behind the counter talking about every guest that walked by, which was uncomfortable. We put back all our items and left. Later, my 12-year-old was simply peeking into an engine when another staff member loudly shouted across the room, "DO NOT TOUCH THE ENGINE." Only one staff member treated us kindly, gently reminding the kids not to sit on the cars. That was appreciated, but it was the exception. Overall, this is not a family-friendly environment. If you have younger kids, I would not recommend bringing them here. We will not be returning. read more

Gorgeous museum with plenty of space so you're not crowded or rushed trying to see all there is to see! There are several different tours available however most were sold out so make sure you book early. We took the $25 tour to the top of the Pagoda, it's definitely worth the money! We got lucky and were there during Ferrari Week so got to see the little red cars zooming around the track! We're not race fans at all, not even car fans of any sort, but we thoroughly enjoyed the museum and the tour. The history and greatness along kept us in awe the entire time. The staff are so friendly and outgoing, ready to answer any and all questions and if they don't know, they'll snag somebody to get the answer for you. We enjoyed our day there and highly recommend it as a bucket list for anybody, even non-race folks! read more

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There are no water fountains! I had to pay 5 dollars for water from a vending machine! Water should be free!

I wanted to go see the museum for Father's Day after the redesign as it has been 35 years since my last visit. We bought tickets online. There was about 12 cars in line to enter the track. For some reason the track get can move hundreds of thousand of people efficiently on race day but it takes 15 minute to get 10 cars in on a normal Sunday. Once it was my turn with the attendant they informed me I had to pay to get into the track. They charged per person not per car, so it was $40 for me to park and go into the museum. That doesn't include museum tickets. Apparently this is a policy when they have event at the track. Not sure what the event was , there were some cars on part of the track. No clue what it was. The museum is nice, but the extra entrance fee is weaker than circus lemonade. read more

I have been here several times but not lately and I was fortunate enough to go just after a major remodel. The entrance area has an all new area of pit stalls and cars of various eras progressing through time. The cars get newer but so do the things in the pits that reflect the period. Then you go into a room that has a screen that covers the wall ahead of you and the entire ceiling. There are cars lined up in starting position and the sounds and the displays are very well done including the USAF Thunderbirds flying over. It is like you are there for the start of a race. The entire museum is well thought out and presented well. There is even a large kids are for hands on "mechanic" work. Of course you can add a ride around the track in a van with a very knowledgeable driver and the museum itself in situated in the infield so you drive under the track to get to it. Even if you are not a race fan this is a very interesting place to visit. read more

100% dissatisfied with the museum!! They sold me tickets online and let me drive all the way there before informing me that it would be another $20 per person to enter the track even though I already had museum tickets. Apparently anytime there is any kind of track event you have to pay to get in the track before you can use your museum tickets. They completely ruined my Father's Day and disappointed me and my kids when they could have easily noted this on their website or before allowing me to buy tickets. I had to go through three phone numbers to get an actual person to refund my tickets and he was not the least bit sorry for wasting my day. This has clearly happened to many other people. read more

** Super Friendly Staff ** ** Fantastic Attraction ** Whether you enjoy racing or not, this is a wonderful place for the whole family. Interesting information on the history of the sport as well as tons of artifact. Plan on spending time here, this was a stop on the way to another location for us, so unfortunately we didn't get to see everything. There are multiple packages, we will be back to see the rest. Everyone working here is super knowledgeable and super kind. The exhibits were exciting to see and there was a ton of them. read more

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This was an unexpectedly fun time and a hidden gem of a museum in Indy! I attended a work related retreat where we got to tour the museum, the Penske Suite and unfortunately since there were cars on the track the day of the event, we missed the"kiss the bricks" tour, but we did get to see cars go around the track - that was awesome! It was great being able to see replicas of the cars - from the beginning of the very first racing cars. The staff and tour guides are very knowledgeable about Indy cars and the history of the track and racing in general, they were very friendly too! The gift shop is pretty expansive also with all sorts of souvenirs. There are interactive booths with a simulated car experience as well. You can even take a selfie in a car! read more

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Worth the extra money for a tour. We went with our family to visit the speedway museum. The kids the. Ricks tour was not available but they had another behind the scenes tour option. We were able to see the media center, victory circle, and other normally restricted areas. The museum had about 50 Indy cars from all different time periods, information on the track owners, information on helmets and traditions on the speedway. In a few hours we learned a lot about the track and had a great time. read more

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They opened the gate at 9 am & we were here. The roar of engines & smell Of rocket fuel is awesome! Unfortunately the American race car association is here this week and we cannot go near the track. There was a men's shop and another large gift shop for women. We spent an hour going through four rooms of cars, watching a 20 minute movie and climbing into two race cars for photos. We saw biographies of Indy 500 winners & their cars by year. read more

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Bucket list . You will have a blast. Watch my time there. https://youtu.be/4sZE37q2IKM read more

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