Event Coverage Indy 500 Museum

After the Custom Car Revival, I stayed an extra day to see friends and go to the museum. The special exhibit was a big deal...career retrospective of A.J. Foyt. He is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (which he won four times), the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There were at least 20 of his rides there.

 

I became interested in the 500 when I was 13. Sam Hanks won that year, but I did not realize that Jimmy Bryan won the next year in the same car after Hanks retired. Always one of the best looking Indy cars for me. I'm sure many of these cars have been cloned, but this one seemed very "real" to me. Explanation below of how it's so low.

 

Great history.

 

I have been there several times. One thing that surprised me was that front wheel drive cars won the 500 .

 

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Mario Andretti also won these races.....plus the 12 hour Sebring

 

^ and USAC and FI championships. Thanx for the pix, I didn't have time to see the Foyt display last time I was in Indy. Gary

 

Tom, Indy Roadsters are my favorite and your work shows their craftsmanship beautifully. Thanks!

 

^^^^^ me too!

 

Thanks, I feel the same way, glad you are enjoying!

 

very Cool - Thanks

 

It's a bucket list museum!

 

By far the best and coolest era of Indy cars, thanks for the photos.

 

Thank you for the pics. I haven't had a chance to go through the museum in years.

As far as "repop" cars, unless something has changed you'll find that the cars in the IMS museum are the real deal - no clones. It used to be that the management had a deal whereby the 500 winning car would become property of the museum at the end of the racing season. It has the largest collection of roadsters, and probably Offies, anywhere.

The Foyt exhibit is a somewhat different deal. The cars are real, but several are on loan from private collections instead of being IMS property.

 

Omg!

 

In was there several years ago and was really impressed. It has the added advantage that it was the one "Car Museum" that my girlfriend enjoyed as much as I did. They have a terrific collection of the ephemera that is associated with the race (awards, plaques, jewelry, etc.) that held her interest while I was able to take my time looking at the cars.

 

Thanks for the tour Tom, it's on my bucket list now more than ever. I feel the "roadster era" was the high point of Indy racing. The cars had the most beautiful paint and graphics long before laser printers were invented and you just can't beat the visual feel of hand lettering, striping, and gold and silver leaf. The cars also represented the human input of mechanical engineering and experimentation; no computers. Time marches on, but luckily Indianapolis has preserved their "Golden Age" for generations to come. Thanks again.

 

Great Photos. We were lucky enough to go there, and take the tour. One of the best.

 

Not roadsters, but.....

 

Thanks! Another place I really want to visit.

 

I've been to the Museum twice, and it just stops you in your tracks. Thanks for bringing it
all back with your wonderful photos Tom.

 

Last time I was there it was 1977.
Guess I should go again.

 

What is that blue car with #16 on the back? That's the one I want.

 

Tom Davidson - Idol