Frequently Asked Questions

The Museum is located inside the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval—between Turns 1 and 2. Guests should enter through Gate 2 along 16th Street. For GPS purposes, please use the following address: 4750 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN, 46222.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit operated by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation and governed by a board of directors. The Foundation is the owner and steward of our Museum’s vast collection of rare—and often one-of-a-kind—vehicles and artifacts. 

As part of our mission, the Museum works diligently to preserve and protect the collection, while ensuring that it represents the rich history behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500, and Indiana’s automotive industry. You can review our protocols for collection management here.

Thank you for your interest in wanting to contribute to our collection. If you have an item you would like to be considered for our collection, please contact rdunbar@imsmuseum.org.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide appraisal or evaluation services.

The IMS Museum is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your general admission, tour tickets, merchandise purchases and more via debit or credit card.

Parking is available in front of the Museum, accessible via the Gate 2 entrance. That parking area is FREE, except when the track is reserved for races and other private events. During events, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will require a ticket or charge an additional admission fee to enter the grounds and in some cases, may require Museum guests to park outside the gates and walk in.

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are highly recommended. Tour schedules are subject to last-minute changes due to weather and track activity. Learn more here.

The best way to stay up-to-date on tour availability is to call ahead at: 463.244.2688. We make every effort to update our tour schedule in real-time and notify reservation holders of any changes.

Museum admission is required to take a Track Tour. We recommend scheduling the tour a minimum of one hour after your Museum visit, but you can also choose to do a Track Tour first.

All tour and admission tickets are non-refundable. Learn more about the policy.

However, you are able to change your general admission ticket reservation time as long as we have tickets available. To do so, please to contact our Ticketing & Reservations Department at 463.244.2688 or email tours@imsmuseum.org. 

While we encourage guests to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before their time slot, tickets will be honored if you arrive earlier or later.

Tickets can be purchased up to 60 days in advance. If you’d like to book more than than 60 days out, please email tours@imsmuseum.org.

The Museum is located within an active racing facility. Due to track activity or weather, track tours may not be available the day of your visit. View our Tour Information page for the most up-to-date schedule.

The Museum strives to make its buildings, programs, and services accessible to all visitors.

Features include:
-Accessible parking
-A limited number of wheelchairs available for guest use
-Wheelchair-accessible racing simulator
-Wheelchair-accessible tour buses
-Subtitles on the Starting Line Experience video and tour bus narration
-Wellness Room for anyone who needs a quiet space, from nursing mothers to those with sensory sensitivities. The Wellness Room is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A complimentary admission ticket will be issued to a licensed care provider for visitors requiring medical assistance to visit. The care provider must provide an employee badge from a licensed facility and a matching photo ID. This complimentary ticket is available to the caregiver when the visitor and accompanying guests present valid admission.

The Museum is also working with Kulture City to become Sensory Inclusive™. Sensory bags can be checked out at the Welcome Center and include soundproof headphones, fidget toys, and glasses to reduce light. Signage around the building indicates “headphone areas” for those with sensitivities to noise.

Yes, the Museum is open on Race Day. We open at the same time as the track gates, 6 a.m.

Only guests with valid IMS parking passes will be allowed to park inside the grounds. Museum guests will need to park outside the gates and walk in during those times, unless you’d like to purchase a parking pass.

Backpacks and coolers are not allowed inside the Museum or the IMS Gift Shop. During events at the track, a designated outdoor storage area is available for your belongings while you explore inside. A limited number of lockers can be found in the Museum Welcome Center, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The Museum and IMS are not liable for any lost or stolen items.

Strollers and diaper bags are allowed.

No, the Museum does not have a cafe or restaurant. However, there is a grab-and-go food and beverage stand in the Track Lounge, which is located on the lower level. Food and beverages must remain in the Track Lounge and not brought into galleries.

The IMS Museum is home to the Official Shop of IMS. When entering the Museum, the gift shop is to the right. Museum admission is not required to access the gift shop.

Membership at the Museum means you can visit as often as you’d like, all year long. Exclusive benefits include members-only events, a 10% discount to the Official IMS Gift Shop (in-person only), and complimentary Kiss the Bricks or Victory Podium tickets. 

At higher-tier levels, members also receive preferred seating at events. You can view our full list of membership benefits for more information.

Memberships are valid for one year, ending on the last day of the month.

For example, if you purchase your membership on January 3, 2025, your expiration date would be January 31, 2026.

Yes, we still recommend that you reserve your tour ahead of time due to scheduling. Tour schedules are subject to last-minute changes due to weather and track activity. 

The best way to stay up-to-date on tour availability is to call ahead at: 463.2442688. We make every effort to update our tour schedule in real-time and notify reservation holders of any changes.

Yes, please contact our Membership Department at members@imsmuseum.org or 463.244.2704 for assistance.

No. Only named individuals on the membership receive free admission. Members guests’ only receive free admission when accompanied by a cardholder and if included in the membership level.