Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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4.4(273)yelp
MotorsportSportsRoad TripThrillingMust-See
Overview
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a motor racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400, and formerly the home of the United States Grand Prix and the Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix. It is located six miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-5 hours
Best TimeThe month of May is the legendary racing window, culminating in the world-famous Indianapolis 500. For an insider track experience without the 400,000-person race-day logjam, attend a mid-May 'Practice Day' when tickets are cheap, grandstands are accessible, and you can comfortably watch open-wheel cars scream past at 230+ mph.
Getting ThereLocated at 4750 W 16th St, Speedway. On major race days, severe traffic restrictions apply; driving requires pre-purchased track parking passes—exit I-465 at 16A and expect heavy state police detours. On non-race days, drivers enjoy unrestricted access through the Gate 2 tunnel straight to the infield lots. Official race shuttles operate from downtown hotels.
Travel Tips
- The speedway footprint is immense, taking dozens of minutes to walk between core gates. Triple-check your grandstand gate number on your ticket before queuing; entering the wrong gate blocks cross-zone access.
- Aluminum cans, glass bottles, and hard-sided coolers exceeding 14x14x14 inches are strictly prohibited. Security staff measure containers at gates; non-compliant coolers must be ditched or returned to cars.
- Main grandstands lack overhead shade and suffer punishing afternoon sun and thermal radiation. Besides SPF50+ sunscreen, you must wear high-decibel noise-reduction earplugs to avoid permanent hearing damage.
Reviews
Positive
- The undisputed racing capital of the world! Standing before the giant 250,000-seat grandstands yields a sweeping, authentic visual and emotional impact.
- As a legendary track, its facilities and management are top-tier; clear multilingual safety signs, excellent accessible lifts, and full medical hubs are ready.
- The efficiency of security, patrol vehicles, and race staff is astonishing; clever crowd metering ensures full safety even when tens of thousands of frantic fans swarm.
- Visiting on non-race days by car offers free parking, and you can buy cheap track shuttle passes to experience a real track lap, delivering incredible value.
- As the world's premier racing mecca, seeing the massive oval track in person delivers off-the-charts visual impact, carrying the profound weight of a century of racing.
- The internal museum is well-regulated, racing history and Hall of Fame exhibits feature clear technical specs, and resting seats are ample with great views.
- Race-day security screening is professional and tight, thousands of ushers keep queues highly orderly, and emergency broadcasts and exit signs are very eye-catching.
- On non-race days, buying a museum ticket that includes a 'Track Tour' lap is highly affordable, letting you ride over the famous yard of bricks for great value.
Heads up
- On the world-famous Indy 500 race day in late May, the track becomes an intensely packed crowd hell; nearby highways freeze into multi-hour gridlock.
- During race week, tickets, seats, and parking fees multiply; mobile vendors inside charge extortionate tourist premiums on food, soda, and beer.
- The high-decibel engine noise of racing cars zooming past at full speed is horrific and bone-rattling; without high-strength ear protection, hearing damage is a real risk.
- Because the motor speedway footprint is massive, treading from remote lots to seats takes over 30 minutes; it sorely lacks shade structures under the baking sun.
- During the famous Indy 500 race in late May, over 300,000 specs flood the site, making it intensely crowded, loud, and packed with chaotic party crowds.
- Because the speedway's footprint is colossally huge, walking from outer lots or transit drops to specific grandstands is unimaginably long and tough on seniors.
- Race-day internal catering suffers from severe price-gouging; a bottle of water or basic hotdog is marked up multiple times, and lines take half an hour.
- The roaring race cars generate deafening noise, and earplugs are not given out for free; unprepared visitors without noise-canceling gear will face extreme discomfort.