The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum was established in 1956 by the late Anton (Tony) Hulman, then track owner, and Karl Kizer, first museum director, to house the Hall of Fame, created in 1952 to honor outstanding personalities in racing and the auto industry. The museum was located outside Gate 1 and displayed a few vintage racing cars.

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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, 1985 Credit: Indiana University Indianapolis View Source

A larger museum was built within the Speedway oval in 1975. This 96,000-square-foot building houses the museum, administrative offices, Speedway ticket office, and Speedway gift shop. The Louis Chevrolet Memorial, located adjacent to the museum, exhibits a bronze bust of Chevrolet and highlights his automotive accomplishments.

The displays are regularly rotated in the museum, exhibiting approximately 70 of the cars included in the collection of more than 200 vehicles. In addition to winning cars from the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the museum displays vintage passenger cars. Inductee medals and portraits are displayed in the museum, which also includes tapes and films to be used for researching cars and drivers’ careers.

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum race car display, 1961 Credit: Indiana University Indianapolis View Source

One of the most noted exhibits is the car that won the 1911 race, a Marmon Wasp driven by Ray Harroun. Another popular exhibit features the four cars driven by A. J. Foyt the four times he won the race (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977).

The museum includes a collection of trophies, uniforms, goggles, and other race-related items, documenting the changing styles and safety standards throughout the years since the race’s beginning. One of the most notable trophies is the Wheeler-Schebler trophy created by Tiffany.

An exhibit of the timing and scoring methods is a recent addition to the museum. The Tony Hulman Theatre provides visitors with a look at historic footage from the first race in 1911, private footage of the track in 1945 when it was purchased by Hulman, and highlights from many races. 

Revised February 2021
 

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