Indianapolis Motor Speedway
NASCARsupershop
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Distance: 2.5-mile oval
Banking/Turns 1-4: 9 º
Banking/Straights: 0 º
Length/Frontstretch: 5/8 mile
Length/Backstretch: 5/8 mile
Short chutes: 1/8 mile each
Miles/laps: 400 miles, 160 laps
HISTORY
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an American icon and the world’s greatest racecourse. With more than 250,000 permanent seats, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also the world’s largest seating facility.
Since its opening, the Speedway has been a proving ground for automobiles and an important factor in the development of the present-day automobile. The Speedway also has been the scene of 91 Indianapolis 500-Mile Races, 14 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard NASCAR events and eight United States Grand Prix Formula One events, playing host to some of the biggest names in auto racing history.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 as a 2.5-mile oval track after investment and leadership by founders Carl G. Fisher, James A. Allison, Arthur C. Newby and Frank H. Wheeler.
The Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is located on the grounds of the facility, in the infield between Turns 1 and 2 of the oval. It is the large, white building that fans see as they exit the tunnel while entering the facility at the main entrance, Gate 2, off of 16th Street.
The Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is recognized as one of the most highly visible museums in the world devoted to automobiles and auto racing. In 1987, the Museum and Speedway grounds were honored with the designation of National Historic Landmark.
Approximately 75 vehicles are on display at all times, including race cars from the Indianapolis 500, stock cars, Formula One cars, and a variety of vintage and current race cars. An extensive trophy collection, including the famed Borg-Warner Trophy presented annually to the Indianapolis 500 winner, is on display. The Museum also offers visitors the 48-seat Tony Hulman Theater, featuring a 20-minute presentation of rare historic footage and Indianapolis 500 highlights.
The Museum is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. local time every day except for Christmas Day, with extended hours during May. The cost is $3 for adults, $1 for children age 6-15 and free for children 5 and younger. Call (317) 492-6784 for more information
