5 cool things to see inside the reimagined IMS museum
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After 17 months on the shelf, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum reopened to the public early last month.
Why it matters: It came back with a whole new vibe and more than $60.5 million in upgrades that completely transformed the experience.
Zoom in: The change was so staggering that four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears was stopped in his tracks when he laid eyes on a new gallery honoring the accomplishment he shares with just three other drivers in history.
- "It's unbelievable. It really is," Mears told the Associated Press.
Catch up quick: The museum closed in November 2023 to undergo its first major renovation in 40 years that packs in 40,000 square feet of additional space for new attractions.
Fun fact: Accessibility was a major focus of the renovation, including a new wheelchair-friendly racing simulator controlled by the steering wheel instead of the pedals, and a wellness room designed for anybody who needs a break from the action.
- The museum has also partnered with Kulture City to provide sensory bags that can be checked out at the Welcome Center and establish "headphone areas" for those with sensitivities to noise.
Here are five new museum highlights:
🏁 Start your engines
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- The new "Starting Line Experience" is a looping, immersive video experience that lets visitors experience the thrill of being inside IMS on race day, from "Back Home Again In Indiana" to the Snake Pit.
🏆 The GOATs
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- "Best of the Best: The Four-Time Winners" is a ground-floor gallery of cars, suits and more dedicated to Indy 500 careers of Rick Mears, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Helio Castroneves.
🥛 Milk on the mezzanine
- A new mezzanine for non-vehicle treasures includes one of Alex Palou's suits, the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 trophy and a history on why winners chug milk.
🙌 Going hands-on
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- An all-ages interactive area has racing sims, a dedicated STEAM classroom, games to test reaction time and the opportunity to feel like you're actually part of a pit crew.
🏎️ Rad new rides
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- Car buffs, rejoice. It's still historic cars as far as the eye can see, with the addition of 14 new cars from Chip Ganassi Racing, including five Indianapolis 500 winners.
- Officials said it is the museum's largest vehicle acquisition since 2011 and the first time modern-era cars have been added to the collection.
If you go: 4750 W. 16th St. Open 9am-5pm daily.
- Tickets start at $25.
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