Today, the new front row will be decided. By Carb Day, you’ll see these liveries change in the Museum’s Starting Line Experience to match the new front row. Who do you think will take the top three spots?
Racing rarities.
TAG Heuer's connection to the Indy 500 goes back more than six decades. Three rare timekeeping devices stand as some of the earliest testaments to this long-standing partnership — crafted in limited numbers and now among the most prized collectors' pieces in existence.
The 1967 Heuer Autavia 3646 is the only first-generation Autavia from serial production with a silver dial, featuring a classic two-register chronograph layout.
The 1968 Heuer Carrera Indy 500 reference 3147 follows with an uncluttered silver dial, a date complication at 12 o'clock, and an elegant gold Wing & Wheel Logo®.
Completing the trio, a pair of exceptionally rare Heuer reference 33.202 stopwatches from around 1965 feature a red rubber case bearing the Indy 500 sponsor Champion's logo with a three-function crown for start, stop, and reset, and precision to 1/100th of a second.
Together, these pieces vividly evoke the drive to victory on the racetrack and the foundation of TAG Heuer and IMS's emblematic partnership.
#TAGHeuer #TAGHeuerCarrera #HeuerAutavia #Indy500
The 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by CHA, brought a sold-out crowd together this morning for a premier celebration of Hoosier hospitality. 🏎️ 🏁
The event united our 33 Princesses, Indiana’s mayors, and racing fans from across the state to celebrate the traditions that define the Month of May. Highlights included an insightful Q&A led by motorsport personality, Katie Kiel, featuring special guests Dave Neff and Michael Good. They discussed how we can celebrate our legendary legacy while inspiring the next generation of fans, in spirit of this year's theme, #RacingThroughHistory.
Following the legendary Milk Toast - featuring a few words from #Indy500 Champion Alex Palou and joined by three-time winner Johnny Rutherford, we officially announced Hailey Ready as our 2026 Queen Scholar! 🥛👑
This year also marks a continued partnership with CHA, formerly Midwestern Engineers, Inc., the event’s presenting sponsor. While the name has evolved, the partnership reflects the same decade-long commitment to supporting the 500 Festival and communities across Indiana.
Cheers to another year of legendary moments and the fans who make it all possible. 🥂
What a morning! Today's sold-out 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard, presented by @chasolutions_ , was a true celebration of the traditions that make the Month of May so special. 🏁
Grounded in our theme of Racing Through History, Dave Neff and @imsmuseum 's President, Michael Good, discussed how we can celebrate our legendary legacy while inspiring the next generation of fans.
This tradition brought together our 33 Princesses, Indiana’s mayors, and racing fans from across the state for a morning of true Hoosier hospitality.
It was a celebration for the books as we heard from defending #Indy500 champion Alex Palou and joined three-time winner Johnny Rutherford for the iconic milk toast, along with the announcement of our 2026 Queen Scholar, Hailey Ready! 🥛👑
Add in a Hoosier breakfast and the kickoff to Indy 500 Qualifications, and it truly was Indiana’s Ultimate Taste of May! 🥞🏎️
In tribute to Alex Zanardi, his 1998 CART championship-winning car is now on display in the IMS Museum's Welcome Center.
Zanardi was signed by Chip Ganassi for the 1996 CART season following a four-year career in Formula 1. He became a back-to-back champion in 1997 and 1998. A horrific crash at the EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, Germany resulted in a double amputation of his legs. Undaunted, he returned just two years later, with the aid of hand controls, and drove a CART car for 13 laps at the 2003 German 500. He returned to racing sports cars and ran demonstration laps for F1. His final race was the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona.
Zanardi found success off the track winning multiple gold and silver medals in handcycling at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. He is an inspiration to all in the motorsports community and beyond.
History comes to life on Race Day. Just before 11 a.m., iconic cars will take to the track for the Museum's Historic Car Lap. Here's this year's lineup:
-1912 National
-1925 Miller Special
-1934 Cummins Diesel Special (not pictured)
-1941 Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special Wetteroth
-1951 Belanger Motors Special Kurtis-Kraft (not pictured)
-1955 John Zink Special Kurtis
-1958 Bowes Seal Fast Special Kurtis Kraft (not pictured)
-1961 Bowes Seal Fast Special Trevis
-1970 Johnny Lightning 500 Special P.J. Colt
-1986 Budweiser March 86C
-2010 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara
Which car are you most excited to see?
New on view: Firestone at the "500" showcases the partnership between Firestone and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As Harvey Firestone said, the Speedway is “the great outdoor laboratory” and for more than a century has served as the place where the brand perfected pioneering breakthroughs like Gum Dipping and modern slick race tires. Since 1900, Firestone continues the relentless pursuit of making the best tires for both the track and the roads you drive on every day.
Prep is underway for the Historic Car Lap! 👀
The Historic Car Lap is a pre-race tradition led by the Museum on Race Morning. Make sure to be in your seats by 10:55 a.m.!
