Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana, United States > Reviews (1)

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located at 4790 W. 16th S in Speedway, Indiana. It was opened August 12, 1909. In addition to the Indianapolis 500, it is also host to FIM MotoGP's Red Bull Indianapolis GP, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Brickyard 400, and Formula One racing as major events. It also hosts smaller events. There are 257, 325 permanent seats around the track, plus temporary seating in the infield during major events that brings the capacity to approximately 400,000 on those days.

Only three feet, or one yard, of the original brick track remains of the 3.2 million bricks laid down as the original track surface, and is the start/finish line. It is nicknamed 'The Brickyard', and includes a gold brick which was the last one laid down to complete construction of the track.

The 559 acre site has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. On the grounds is located the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, which is open to the public every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and includes a gift shop. Concessions are scattered around onsite. There is also the Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort on site.

Track tours and grounds tours are both available and educational to take. The track tour is a bus ride around the track with information and interesting points being told throughout the journey. A grounds tour gives an in depth look into the track, all of the behind the scenes action areas of race days, buildings, and a deeper look into the history of the Speedway. I have taken both tours, and while the track tour is certainly interesting, the grounds tour is so much more involved and I came away from it feeling not only more informed about the Speedway and its history, but like I'd had a memorable experience. Whether you go for a race, a tour or a visit to the museum, you will spend a day in a place with a very impressive history and will come away feeling like you got your money's worth.