Preserving Legends. Inspiring Generations.

The Stories Behind the Spectacle capital campaign was announced to the public in July 2023 to fund a complete transformation of the Museum as well as the building of a new Restoration and Event Center. As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, and a separate entity from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Museum is responsible for its own fundraising and revenue generation.

The Museum completed the first chapter of The Stories Behind the Spectacle capital campaign in April 2025, opening a completely reimagined experience. The Museum now focuses on telling the stories of the Indianapolis 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in an educational, engaging, and interactive way. Recognized as one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places (2026) and named Museum of the Year by the International Historic Motoring Awards (2025), the page now turns to a new and exciting chapter—the construction of a brand-new 87,000-square-foot Restoration and Event Center. 

Pictured: The John H Holliday Family Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery

The Next Chapter: Restoration and Event Center

With increased visitation, global recognition, and growing demand for behind-the-scenes access, the Museum must expand to create a permanent home for restoration, education, and event programming. The Restoration and Event Center, located in the Town of Speedway just outside Indianapolis Motor Speedway, addresses the demand to display more cars from our collection, will be a world-class restoration facility preserving motorsports heritage, and will become a premier destination for events. It’s a unique offering for the Indianapolis and global motorsports communities. 

Pictured: A rendering of the exterior of the Restoration and Event Center. Rendering is conceptual only, final design may differ.

A Living Collection

80 percent of the Museum’s car collection runs, thanks to the hard work of the restoration team. They currently work out of two 1,500-square-foot restoration buildings. The nearly 70-year-old buildings limit work to three cars at a time. The new Restoration and Event Center will include six full-service restoration bays, two detailing bays, and dedicated space for vehicle storage. Cars not displayed in the Museum will be housed in the facility, where there are plans to offer guided tour experiences and behind-the-scenes programming. As one of the few museums with an active car restoration department, the new facility is essential for the continued preservation and care of historic vehicles.

Pictured: The current restoration building.

Meet the Restoration Team

The Museum currently has five full-time restoration staff members with a combined 175 years of experience as crew members in IndyCar, NASCAR, and restoring vintage cars. They are responsible for the more than 200 cars in the Museum’s collection. As the Museum’s collection grows, this new facility will allow us to add additional full-time and part-time employment opportunities.

Inspiring the Next Generation

A central pillar of this campaign is the expansion of our education initiatives focusing on automotive engineering, restoration craftsmanship, and motorsports technology. This initiative will help address a growing shortage of skilled technicians while positioning the Museum as a leader in motorsports education. Programming aspirations include student workshops and potential certification pathways, partnerships with vocational schools and universities, potential internship and apprenticeship opportunities, and mentorship programs. 

Pictured: Education Manager Nakia helping a summer camp participant build a car.

Investing In Our Stories

The Restoration and Event Center will bring restoration to life while strengthening the Museum’s sustainability for generations to come. We invite you to make a gift to this next chapter of The Stories Behind the Spectacle campaign. Together, we can preserve the stories that shaped motorsports history and inspire those who will shape its future.

Recognition opportunities include: 

• Restoration and Event Center Naming Rights  

• Event Space (4,500 square feet) 

• Vehicle Gallery (open to the public) 

• Restoration Bays  

• Test Track 

• Tour Experiences  

• Donor Recognition Wall 

To learn more about how you can get involved in making these plans a reality, contact Michael Good, President, at mgood@imsmuseum.org.

Pictured: A rendering of the Restoration and Event Center. Rendering is conceptual only, final design may differ.