Touring Indy’s Treasures: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

The Indianapolis space is dwelling to a variety of “treasures” — attention-grabbing locations, museums, and landmarks that make Indy particular. Be part of Information 8’s Hanna Mordoh on a tour of Indy’s treasures.

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SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is greater than only a pit cease for racing followers.

The IMS Museum is situated contained in the historic 2.5-mile monitor and is acknowledged as probably the most highly-visible museums on the earth devoted to cars and auto racing.

“We’re in probably the most unimaginable automotive museums on the earth. We’ve got the biggest assortment of profitable vehicles from the Indianapolis 500 proper behind me. You realize, for a very long time, I believe, this was actually a hidden gem in Indianapolis,” IMS Museum President Joe Hale stated.

Hale says the hidden gem is being found increasingly more each day.

“It truly is a option to carry the world’s consideration to Indianapolis,” Hale stated.

The Indianapolis 500 is full of tales and the historical past of the race and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are greatest displayed and mentioned on the museum, which has been in the identical constructing for nearly 50 years. Though it’s on speedway property, the museum is technically a separate entity from IMS, in response to Hale.

“Our job is to advertise the historical past and file the historical past of the five hundred — the epic drama of the Indianapolis 500,” Hale stated. “However we’re a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit. So, we personal the gathering. The Penske group owns the constructing. They’re a beautiful landlord as a result of they solely cost us $1 a yr.”

One greenback is a really good value to pay to have the ability to showcase a few of the most epic items of racing historical past.

Jason Vansickle is the museum’s vp of curation schooling. He took Information 8’s Hanna Mordoh on a tour to see a few of these historic items.

One exhibit that all the time catches the eye of holiday makers is the gathering of Indianapolis 500-winning vehicles displayed simply past the museum’s entrance.

“We’re proper within the midst of our ‘Successful 500’ assortment. That is the biggest variety of 500 winners on show to the general public,” Vansickle stated. “The innovation and the expertise of the Indy automotive modified through the years. You take a look at the Wasp and suppose, ‘This was the top of expertise throughout that point,’ after which you’ve one thing like Rossi’s ’16 winner or Wheldon’s 2011 winner…that’s 100 years distinction subsequent to one another.”

The tour additionally included stops at a few of the reveals new to the museum this yr.

A kind of reveals known as “Traditions.”

“What we needed to do was spotlight these a number of traditions that actually make the Indianapolis Motor Speedway particular to a number of race followers,” Vansickle stated.

Included is the Borg-Warner Trophy.

“The Borg-Warner Trophy is on everlasting show right here on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway kMuseum when it’s not out doing different public appearances,” Vansickle stated. “That is what the drivers need to have their face enshrined on after profitable the Indianapolis 500.”

The museum’s latest exhibition, “Smooth – the Artwork of the Helmet,” opened this week.

However the museum’s most unique exhibit takes guests to someplace sudden — the basement.

“Final yr, we began ‘The Basement Assortment,’” Hale stated. “We are actually standing on a few of the most precious vehicles on the earth, however they weren’t obtainable to the general public. So we stated, ‘How can we create an exhibition round that?’”

Cell telephones and cameras will not be allowed within the basement in an effort to protect the autos and the exclusivity of the exhibit. Nevertheless, in Could, Information 8’s Cody Adams obtained an unique look on the assortment.

“The Basement Assortment” is an ideal end for any race fan.

“It’s actually a bucket checklist location for lots of people,” Hale stated.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is open each day of the yr besides Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. You’ll be able to plan your go to at the IMS Museum web site.