What It Is

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which features a 2.5 mile-long track and seats more than 250,000 people, is the “oldest continually operating racetrack in the United States.”  The self-proclaimed “racing capital of the world,” it has hosted races for IndyCar (the Indy 500 being its biggest and most well-known race), Grand Prix, NASCAR, Formula One, MotoGP, sports car racing, dirt track racing, and more.  Both the museum and the tour celebrate the track’s heritage and excitement with tons of displays of historic racing vehicles and memorabilia.

Where It Is

Indianapolis, Indiana

When We Went

July 2019

What We Did

Took a 30-minute, guided “Back Lot Tour” of the track and a self-guided tour of the museum.

How Much We Spent

We didn’t keep any records showing what this cost us in 2019.  However, the museum currently (as of February 2026) charges the following:

• Adults: $25
• Seniors (55+): $23
  
• Military (Former and Active): $12
  
• Youth (6-16): $18
  
• Children (ages 5 and under): FREE
  

Tours require museum admission and an additional fee: 

• Adults: $15
• Seniors (55+): $12
  
• Military (Former and Active): $12
  
• Youth (6-16): $8
  
• Children (ages 5 and under): FREE
  

How Much Time We Spent There

Several hours.

What We Liked

The track tour gave us access to many behind-the-scenes locations.  We went inside the glass-enclosed media center, where we posed for a picture and watched fans in ride-alongs drive by on the track.  We walked around the Pagoda, one of the track’s most distinguishing structures and home to race control, timing, scoring, and broadcast booths.  We also stood in the winner’s circle and on the podium, and we drove through Gasoline Alley in golf carts.  

Although we couldn’t get on the track itself (our tour was limited to buildings only), we did get to visit part of the strip of paving bricks—which serves as the start/finish line—in front of the Pagoda.  In the tradition of all race winners since 1996, my husband and the kids got down on their knees and kissed the bricks, much to the amusement of the other folks in our tour group.  

We can’t say enough good things about the museum, which is located between turns 1 and 2 inside the track.  Large, bright, and open, it was full of—big surprise—cars.  I’m a casual race fan, but even I appreciated seeing room after room filled with cars from the early 1900s to the present.  Seeing cars from different eras in the same room helped us appreciate all of the advancements that have been made in racing in terms of design, technology, and safety.  I was happy to skim over the numerous placards and glance at the cars, but the boys took their time and really absorbed the history and the memorabilia that was on display.

Another highlight: we couldn’t get over how surprisingly close fans can get to the cars.  We stood less than a foot away from most vehicles with nothing between us and them but a thin, metal “rope” barricade, set about a foot off the ground.

Entering and exiting the infield, where the museum and tours are located, is an experience, too, as you drive through tunnels under the bleachers.

What We Didn't Like

The section of town immediately preceding the speedway was surprisingly run-down.  The speedway and museum, however, were clean and felt safe.


Was it worth it? 

For us, yes.  My family, the boys in particular, enjoys watching a variety of car races, including NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1.  They were in heaven wandering around the museum.  The admission fees aren’t horrible, so even if you’re mildly interested in racing, we think this is a worthy stop, especially considering how many cars you can see and how much history there is to appreciate.

It’s important to note that we don't know what the museum currently looks like.  Between November 2023 and April 2025, the museum closed while it underwent its first significant renovation in 40 years.  Thanks to its $60.5 million investment, the museum is now double the size it was when we visited (now 80,000 square feet) and features “new immersive and dynamic experiences.”  We thought the museum was impressive in 2019.  I’m sure it would be even more so now.


For more information, visit https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/, https://imsmuseum.org/, and https://imsmuseum.org/visit/track-tours/.

Did You Know?  The “Brickyard,” as Indianapolis Motor Speedway is often called, was built in the spring of 1909 as a testing facility for the local automotive industry.  Originally paved with crushed rock and tar, the track was repaved in the fall of 1909 with 3.2 million bricks, giving the track its nickname.  When the track was resurfaced again, this time with asphalt, a strip of bricks was preserved in recognition of the track’s history.

Was It Worth It?
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and Tour

​Posted February 13, 2026, by Janet Wolfe