Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Hall of Fame Museum
Indianapolis, Ind.
Friday, July 14, 2006

The Speedway museum is a fantastic collection of old race cars, memorabilia, track history and cars made in Indiana. Everything from Duesenberg racers and street cars, a turbine-powered race car, early pace cars and trophies are on display. Allow at least two hours to go through the museum.

More than 75 vehicles are on display. Each car has a story behind it and the information cars are complete and well-written. Unlike the rest of the stops on this trip, I’ve been to the Hall of Fame Museum before. A couple of cars stood out:

• The Turbine: In the late 1960s, several cars raced powered by turbine engines. They can be spotted by their rather square rear ends, which house high-powered turbines. None won the race but famed engine builder Andy Granitelli tried several times.
  
  
• The Diesel: Believe it or not, a diesel once raced at Indianapolis. It won the pole in 1952.

I didn’t realize that Tony Hulman, who bought the track in 1946, came from the family that made Clabber Girl Baking Powder. Don’t miss the 20-minute movie on the track’s history. It’s included in the $3 admission price.

I went back to the track that Sunday to take the Grounds Tour, an extended tour that goes into the press box and lets visitors walk on the last brick section of the track. It’s $25 and I'm really looking forward to it. On my last visit, I only had time for the shorter track tour, a bus ride around the track and pit area.