Latest news with #BackHomeAgainInIndiana
Axios
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
5 cool things to see inside the reimagined IMS museum
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 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 "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 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 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.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Forest Park Elementary holds Indy 500-themed race for students
BRAZIL, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — It's the month of May, and the Indianapolis 500 is just around the corner. Monday, Forest Park Elementary school students got to experience the thrill and magic of the greatest spectacle in racing right here in the Wabash Valley. The race started like any other Indy 500 with driver introductions, the playing of 'Back Home Again In Indiana' and fans on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The drivers wrestling the wheel around the four turns in the Forest Park parking lot are student in their life skill class. 'So, it's our life skill students, our life skills classroom, so they have various needs. So we just wanted to make something accessible to them. So we had those students participate today…Really exciting to see those students be able to participate and have an event that was fully inclusive and allowed them to be the stars today,' said Dustin Jorgensen, Principal at Forest Park. Jorgensen says that due to some of these students' needs, they may not be able to experience the excitement of a race in person. 'The big thing is we want them to be able to experience what race day is like. Some of them may not be able to go to a race, so we wanted to have that experience,' said Jorgensen. Once the race began, Corbin Clingerman took the lead and didn't look back. 'Racing is pretty good cause cars go fast and I just like it so much,' said Corbin. Corbin's father, Anthony, said this race is something his son has been looking forward to. 'Well, he couldn't sleep last night cause he was ready to race, so I had to try to get him to go to sleep, but he was all pumped up and ready to go. So I think he's going to be the next NASCAR racer in the family,' said Anthony. Community members, Indy 50 Princesses and a professional racecar driver even came out to support. 'It's very cool. I really like what Forrest Park has done here with the kids. This is our first time attending the event, and they really made it special,' said USAC Driver Chase Stockton. 'It's so great to see the smile on these kids' faces. It really kinda represents and symbolizes why we are all here, and just seeing the smile on their face kinda gives you that moment of why we do what we do,' said Indy 500 Princess, Holly DeLong. As Corbin crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted in chants. Now, there was only one thing left a nice cold glass of milk to wash down his victory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
