by Chris Mulvihill - 01/19/2022
It is mid-January and there is no better way to begin thinking about the 2022 racing season than with a trip to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Opened in April 1976, the museum is conveniently located in the infield near Turn 2. You enter the raceway at Gate 2 (going under the racetrack) and once you emerge the museum is straight ahead.
The 1972 Sunoco Special was the first Indy 500 win for Renske Racing. Roger Penske purchased the historic raceway in 2019.
In addition to the museum, the building houses a gift shop, a few administrative offices on the second floor, and a ‘basement garage’. The basement houses much of the Speedway’s car collection and for decades was not accessible by the general public. This policy changed in 2021 and 30-minute basement tours are now available. Reservations are required with the tour groups restricted to 6 folks. As a footnote, no cameras or phones are allowed. Having the good fortune to tour the basement in the mid-2000s, I highly recommend it.
This single-seat, six-cylinder 1911 Marmon ‘Wasp’ won the 1911 Indy 500 and is believed to be the first automobile to use a rearview mirror.
The museum’s main display area is divided into two. One side is dedicated year-round to over 30 Indy 500 winning cars with reader boards detailing the history of each car. The other side is set up for special displays that change every 10-12 months. During this visit, the museum had a great display of 4 time Indy winner Rick Mears. In addition to several of his cars, the display contained artifacts including his racing helmets, driving suits, and promotional hats.
Winning the Indy 500 in ’79, ’84, ’88, and ’91, Rick Mears retired from racing in 1992 and continues to act as a consultant and spotter for Penske Racing.
Through a short hallway off the Northside of the main display area is a separate room for events and displays. Race team owner and master promoter Andy Granatelli was featured along with his easily recognizable florescent orange race cars. Some remember his famous turbine-powered, all-wheel-drive car, driven by Parnelli Jones, that almost won the 1967 Indy 500. However, Granatelli may be remembered most as the colorful STP (Scientifically Treated Petroleum) oil treatment promotor.
The 1969 STP Brawner-Hawk III was a backup car for driver Mario Andretti. With engine overheating issues and driving the entire race with the same right rear tire, Andretti leads 116 of the 200 laps to win the 1969 race.
Open 363 days a year the Indianapolis Speedway Museum is well thought out and kept fresh by rotating the displays. There is a good mix of older pre-WWII history VS current day to make it interesting for all race fans. General admission is $15 and given I spent a leisurely 3 hours reviewing all the displays-a bargain. I recommend a visit and I’m looking forward to a basement tour on my next trip.
About the author: Chris Mulvihill is the owner of Classic Car Advisors which offer a number of services to owners of classic cars from inspections and evaluations to locating collectors and car assisting with Concourse d'Elegance placement.
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