Marco Andretti Retires

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In an announcement on X, Marco Andretti announced his retirement from racing. Andretti raced in 20 Indianapolis 500s, finishing second in 2006 and winning the pole in 2020. He also finished third three times and had seven top 10 finishes. Andretti won three races in his IndyCar career, his final victory coming at Iowa in 2011. I will have more about this story later in the week.

Andretti’s statement:

🏁 To my family, friends, teams, sponsors, and fans who have genuinely supported me for the last 30 years in motorsports, I want to thank you for allowing me the privilege to continue our family’s passion on the racetrack. I have had some really fun times behind the wheel in a lot of different types of racing cars — a lot of great memories as well, mostly at the Indy 500. Today, I am announcing my retirement from motor racing and the Indianapolis 500. That totals 20 starts at the Speedway, which I feel so fortunate to be able to say. That is ranked 12th all-time. Not bad for a 38-year-old. I am proud of my overall stats at the Indy 500. I had six very legitimate shots at victory with Andretti Autosport and ended up with 20% top-3 finishes at the Speedway. It feels accomplishing to me to be able to retire having more podium finishes than my father Michael and the same as my grandfather Mario at the biggest race in the world. I will never forget the rare circumstance of getting to race my dad in the closing laps for the win there — the pressure of participating in a dramatic Bump Day in 2011 to a pole position in 2020. That is what the Indianapolis 500 produces: extremes on both ends. That is why I love and appreciate it so much. I am very much at peace with the next chapter in my life after dedicating three decades to the sport. I will be prioritizing most of my time on being a great father to my daughter, Miura, and tending to my other business ventures. I am also coming out with a memoir about my life called “Defending the Dynasty.” Details coming soon on that. 2006–2025: Competing at the top level of North American motorsport is and has been an honor for me, even in the tough times. That is where I can look back and say I have made my best progress in life as a man. Learning to navigate very difficult dynamics at times, and others doubting me, made me realize that my opinion of myself is the one that should matter the most. Lastly, a special thank-you to a lot of the people I respect in motor racing for the kind words about my driving, work ethic, and true character. – MA 🏁

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Murray Leads Andretti Power Play in Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS 

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Editor’s Note: I was unable to attend the test today. Here is the report from IndyCar.

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Oct. 27, 2025) – Sebastian Murray laid down the first marker for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, leading the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Oct. 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.Murray was quickest among 24 drivers turning laps on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit, stopping the clocks at 1 minute, 14.5035 seconds in the No. 27 Andretti Global car.
Murray, from Scotland, finished 13th in the series standings in 2025 as a rookie for Andretti Cape INDY NXT before moving to the Andretti team after this season for 2026.
SEE: Overall Test Results
“Great day at IMS,” Murray said. “We finished P1, so obviously thrilled. The team was amazing today, and we learned a lot and improved a lot. We were obviously very fast all day, so massive thank you to the team.”
The quick lap by Murray was the highlight of a strong performance for Andretti Global, whose drivers seized the top three spots on the time chart. Andretti Global drivers also have won the last two championships in the INDYCAR development series.Series veterans and Andretti newcomers Max Taylor and Josh Pierson ended up second and third, respectively.
Taylor’s best lap was 1:14.6366 in the No. 28 car, while Pierson ended up at 1:14.6674 in the No. 29 machine. Taylor was quickest overall in the morning session at 1:15.0926.
Nikita Johnson was fourth overall and the quickest rookie at the test, turning a best lap of 1:14.8849 in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports car. USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 series runner-up Johnson made three INDY NXT starts early in the 2025 season but will be eligible for Rookie of the Year honors in 2026.
AJ Foyt Racing marked a successful return to the INDYCAR development series with USF Pro 2000 veteran and INDY NXT rookie Alessandro de Tullio rounding out the top five at 1:15.0406.
The annual open test is named in memory of Chris Griffis, the team manager of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports who passed away suddenly in September 2011. Twenty-four drivers – three more than the burgeoning 21 cars that ran most of the 2025 season – combined to turn 1,728 laps over the two sessions of the test day.
The 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season starts Sunday, March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

ECR PARTNERS WITH CAPE MOTORSPORTS TO JOIN INDY NXT FIELD IN 2026

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Editor’s Note: Story from ECR. I will have follow up stories next week on IndyNXT and the IndyCar grid.

ECR Also Teams Up With Jay Howard Driver Development to Establish Direct Pathway to NTT INDYCAR SERIES
(INDIANAPOLIS) October 24, 2025 – ECR (Ed Carpenter Racing) announced today a partnership with Cape Motorsports to join the INDY NXT field in 2026. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR will field two entries in INDY NXT, the developmental series of INDYCAR. The teams will collaborate to provide technical support, testing opportunities for emerging drivers, and career development for engineers and mechanics. The INDY NXT entries will carry ECR’s team colors of Carpenter Blue and Indiana Gold, mirroring ECR’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES Chevrolets.
In addition, ECR will partner with Jay Howard Driver Development in the USF Pro Championships (USF Juniors, USF2000, and USF Pro 2000). Similar to the entries in INDY NXT, the Jay Howard Driver Development cars will also race in ECR’s team colors and carry the Powered by ECR moniker. The new ladder of Jay Howard Driver Development, Cape Motorsports, and ECR establishes a direct pathway to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
ECR’s entry into INDY NXT is a natural progression for the team. Although ECR has competed exclusively in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012, the team has long maintained an eye for talent developed in the ladder series. ECR cars have been driven by three USF2000 champions, four USF Pro 2000 champions, and six INDY NXT champions. The team’s most recent race winner, Christian Rasmussen, is one of only two drivers in history to earn a championship in each division that currently feeds the NTT INDYCAR SERIES – USF2000 (2020), USF Pro 2000 (2021), and INDY NXT (2023). ECR team owner Ed Carpenter is a graduate of INDY NXT, having competed in the series in 2002 and 2003.
“I’m very excited to bring these highly successful programs together to create a complete development path through the entire open-wheel ladder system,” Carpenter stated.“As ECR continues to grow and work toward becoming a championship-caliber team, this is an important step forward. This partnership should not only strengthen ECR, but also Cape Motorsports and JHDD. I’m looking forward to being involved and working with all of the programs and drivers in 2026 and beyond.”
Cape Motorsports is a Brownsburg, Indiana–based racing team founded by brothers Dominic and Nicholas Cape in 2001. The team has competed in numerous levels of U.S. junior open-wheel series since its founding and has won 14 USF2000 titles in 21 years. In 2026, Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR will field two cars in INDY NXT. In late September, the team announced that one entry will be driven by Florida native Nikita Johnson, 17.
“Partnering with ECR and Jay Howard Driver Development is an incredibly exciting step for Cape Motorsports,” said Dominic and Nicholas Cape, co-owners of Cape Motorsports. “This collaboration brings together three organizations that share the same passion for discovering and shaping young talent. From karting to INDYCAR, we’re building a pathway that gives drivers every opportunity to grow, learn, and ultimately succeed at the highest level. For us, it’s about more than just racing, it’s about building the next generation of champions.”
With a mission of developing drivers internally, Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) guides drivers from their early days in karting through the junior ranks of open-wheel racing. The team is led by Jay Howard, the only driver in history to win the USF2000 championship both as a driver and as a team owner. JHDD is headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, near the location of ECR’s future race shop.
Howard stated, “I would like to thank Ted (Gelov, ECR Chairman) and Ed for this opportunity. This is something I had envisioned back when I started this driver development program. Under the ECR banner, we are the only development program of its kind that will be able to take drivers from karts to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, which is phenomenal.” He continued, “The future is bright for everyone involved! We will proudly represent Java House, Splenda, and ECR in it’s a new era and we are ready to get to work.”
The first Powered by ECR entry will take to the track next week. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR will participate in the annual INDY NXT Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Monday, October 27, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
About Ed Carpenter Racing Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by team co-owner Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). For the 2025 season, Alexander Rossi joined the team as driver of the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet while Christian Rasmussen has been elevated full-time driver of the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet. Carpenter completed ECR’s three-car lineup in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. More information on Ed Carpenter Racing may be found at http://www.ecrindy.com/.

 INDY NXT by Firestone Drivers Featured at Chris Griffis Memorial Test Monday at IMS

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  The Chris Griffis Memorial Test is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Testing and driver evaluations by INDY NXT by Firestone teams will take place from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile circuit.
The annual open test is named in memory of Chris Griffis, the team manager of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports who passed away suddenly in September 2011.
WHAT: Chris Griffis Memorial Test
WHO: INDY NXT by Firestone Teams and Drivers Scheduled to Participate (subject to change, (R) denotes series rookie):
ABEL Motorsports: Max Garcia (R), Colin Kaminsky, Jordan Missig, Myles Rowe
A.J. Foyt Enterprises: Nicholas Monteiro (R), Alessandro de Tullio (R)
Andretti Global: Lochie Hughes, Sebastian Murray, Josh Pierson, Max Taylor
Chip Ganassi Racing: Bryce Aron, Niels Koolen
Cusick Morgan Motorsports: Juan Manuel Correa, Nicholas Stati (R)
HMD Motorsports: Jack Beeton (R), Enzo Fittipaldi (R), Tymek Kucharczyk (R)
A full participation list will be available in the coming days on the INDYCAR and IMS content site.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 27
WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

AJ Foyt Racing to Compete in INDY NXT by Firestone in 2026 

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Editor’s note: Story from A J Foyt Racing. It is great to see another IndyCar team affiliated with IndyNXT.

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INDIANAPOLIS (October 21, 2025) — AJ Foyt Racing will extend its program into the INDY NXT by Firestone championship beginning in 2026. The team will field a two-car effort as it looks to build a strong foundation for drivers, crew, engineers, partners, and more for the future. Backed by a Strategic Alliance with HMD Motorsports, this collaboration represents the next step in strengthening the connection between INDY NXT by Firestone and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, creating a more straightforward pathway for driver and team personnel development.

 

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The young drivers of the INDY NXT by Firestone championship get ready for the start at Nashville Superspeedway. (INDYCAR Photo)

While AJ Foyt Racing will maintain its own brand and identity, the new program emphasizes the team’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of INDYCAR talent. By working with not only drivers but also crew members looking to make a move to the INDYCAR SERIES earlier in their careers, the organization aims to provide a more integrated and structured approach to preparing all for the top level of American open-wheel racing.

Founded in 1965 by four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, AJ Foyt Racing is an iconic and respected name in motorsports. With multiple championships across the various sanctioning bodies of INDYCAR racing over the years, the team has built a legacy rooted in excellence, perseverance, and innovation. Under the leadership of Larry Foyt, the team continues to uphold its long-standing commitment to developing competitive talent and advancing the sport.

 

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The addition the program marks AJ Foyt Racing’s second foray into the INDY NXT by Firestone championship.. In 2002, A.J. Foyt IV won the first INDY NXT by Firestone championship. Ed Carpenter drove for the team in 2003 and won the Freedom 100, the Series’ inaugural race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

“This has been a long time coming,” commented AJ Foyt Racing Team President Larry Foyt. “We’ve

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played a significant role in developing drivers who have gone on to compete at the top level of INDYCAR. We felt it was time to get involved in the INDY NXT by Firestone program again. Forming a Technical and Strategic Alliance with HMD Motorsports provides the experience and technical support to make our INDY NXT program as strong and effective as possible.”

 

HMD Motorsports brings extensive experience in the INDY NXT by Firestone championship to the new alliance program. Since joining the series in 2019 and competing full-time from 2021 onward, the team has earned both a team title and two driver championships, multiple rookie of the year honors, and promoted several drivers into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. HMD will provide technical support and series insight to AJ Foyt Racing’s INDY NXT program.

 

“We are thrilled to announce this Strategic Alliance with AJ Foyt Racing,” commented HMD Motorsports Team President Mike Maurini. “This is the next step in making the pathway to INDYCAR more accessible to talented drivers throughout the INDY NXT paddock. Together, our teams will combine experience and resources to help develop the next generation of competitive drivers.”

 

The partnership will combine AJ Foyt Racing’s INDYCAR experience with HMD Motorsports’ success in INDY NXT to support driver development and prepare rising talent for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. AJ Foyt Racing will make its INDY NXT by Firestone debut in 2026 with further details on the driver lineup and program to be announced in the coming months.

IndyCar Series Oval Testing Tuesday and Wednesday

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Four today and two tomorrow. Today and Wednesday at IMS the IndyCar series will conduct two separate tests on the oval.

Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren and Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing will run a swingle day Firestone tire test. ECR’s Alexander Rossi and Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Takuma Sato will begin a two-day parts evaluation.

I like that a couple of the teams not normally included in tests are getting to participate.

The turn 2 mounds will be open for fans during the scheduled 9 am- 5 pm test.

 Team WRT Wins Rain-Hampered Indianapolis 8 Hour for Third Straight Year

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From IMS:

  MotoGP Legend Rossi Adds Four-Wheeled Victory at IMS

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025) – Team WRT earned its third consecutive victory in the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a race hampered by severe weather during its second half. The team of Kelvin van der Linde of South Africa, Charles Weerts of Belgium and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi of Italy won the eight-hour race for the Intercontinental GT Challenge and GT World Challenge America powered by AWS in the No. 46 Team WRT BMW M4 under caution during a heavy rainstorm.
Just two laps of green flag racing took place on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course in the final four hours of the race due to waves of lightning and heavy thunderstorms that rolled through Central Indiana.
SEE: Race Results
This was the fourth Intercontinental GT Challenge victory in five races this season for van der Linde, who also clinched the series championship with the win. BMW also clinched its first manufacturers’ championship in the season finale for the global series for GT3-spec sports cars.
“It’s a bit of an anticlimax, to be honest,” van der Linde said. “It’s such a cool race, and to spend two hours behind the Safety Car is a bit of a tricky one. The 777 (Team WRT sister car) deserved the win today, so I feel a bit of mixed emotions for the team.
“Nonetheless, four out of five for BMW Motorsport has made me very proud. There are some years where you have luck on your side, and things work out. That’s one of those years.”
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi earned his first Intercontinental GT Challenge victory and the distinction of becoming an IMS winner on two and four wheels, as he also won the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race in 2008. Ironically, that race also took place in torrential rain.
“I’m very happy because it was a great race, and at the end we were very lucky,” Rossi said. “Winning here for me is very special because I won here in 2008 with MotoGP, so it’s something fantastic. I’m very happy to help Kelvin win the championship.”
The No. 888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR Mercedes-AMG shared by Maro Engel, Tom Kalender and Luca Stolz finished second. Team WRT also took the final spot on the podium with its No. 777 BMW M4 driven by Raffaele Marciello, Augusto Farfus and Al Faisal Al Zubair.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES standout Conor Daly was a member of the No. 99 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 driver lineup that finished fourth. Two-time INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power finished sixth with the No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG team in his first sportscar race since 2003.
The red flag first flew for lightning four hours and three minutes into the race. The 25 cars in the race returned to the track under caution behind the Safety Car with one hour, 32 minutes remaining.Track conditions improved and rain subsided enough for the race to return to green-flag conditions with 40 minutes remaining. But the field only ran under full power for two laps before the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG of Jules Gounon stopped at the entrance of the pit lane with an apparent gearbox problem. Gounon’s team started from the pole after the No. 51 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 that Philipp Eng drove to the quickest time in qualifying Friday was found to have a technical violation in post-qualifying inspection.
Then another heavy downpour soaked IMS, with large pools of standing water on the racetrack creating dangerous conditions that prevented green-flag racing. Despite attempts by sweeper trucks to clear the water, the race ended under yellow at its scheduled time of 8:20 p.m. ET.
While severe weather impacted the second half of the race, the first four hours featured feverish, caution-free action.
Van der Linde was running second, five seconds behind teammate and championship rival Marciello, when the approach of lightning triggered the first caution period and then the extended red flag.
When cars returned to the track under yellow with one hour, 32 minutes remaining, team strategists went to work on stands up and down pit lane to call cars to the pits for fuel and to reset drivers’ stint lengths, as a maximum stint of 65 minutes is allowed per series rules.
Team WRT called van der Linde to the pits in his No. 46 entry with 65 minutes remaining to reset his stint length a lap earlier than most other cars. Marciello did the same on the following lap, along with most of the leaders.That strategic ploy allowed van der Linde to jump ahead of Marciello in the running order before the green flag flew for the final time for just two laps, and Marciello couldn’t get past van der Linde during the brief full-power racing session. 

American Teams Lock Out Front Row for Indianapolis 8 Hour at IMS

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Oct. 17, 2025) – The world’s best GT3 sports car racing teams have come to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to compete this weekend, but American teams defended home soil by locking out the front row Friday for the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.
BMW factory driver Philipp Eng joined Random Vandals Racing, based in Concord, North Carolina, this weekend for the season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and GT World Challenge America powered by AWS series and won the pole for the eight-hour endurance race Saturday.
SEE: Pole Shootout Results
Eng, from Austria, turned a top lap of 1 minute, 22.271 seconds in the No. 51 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 that he will share with Americans Varun Choksey and Bill Auberlen in the race, which starts at 12:20 p.m. ET Saturday and finishes in darkness with race car headlights at 8:20 p.m. Eng won this race in 2023 driving with Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor in a BMW fielded by Team WRT.
“When we rolled the car off the truck straightaway, it was so well prepared by Random Vandals,” Eng said. “We improved the car step by step, and I’m very happy for the guys because this is my first time joining the team, first time being a Random Vandal, and I love it.
“I was very happy with the car, with the lap. It’s a long race ahead. We’ll see how tomorrow goes.”
Jules Gounon, from France, qualified second at 1:22.283 – just .012 of a second shy of pole — in the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG fielded by Mercedes-AMG Lone Star Racing, based in Denison, Texas. Gounon will share that car with Lin Hodenius of the Netherlands and Maxime Martin of Belgium.
The 10-car Pole Shootout session was tight, with just .235 of a second separating the top six drivers.
There will be 25 cars competing in the eight-hour race from renowned manufacturers Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. These are all GT3-specification sports cars, which resemble their showroom counterparts.
Particular attention will be paid to Row 2 of the starting grid, occupied by the two drivers vying for the season championship in the global sports car series driving for the same team, Team WRT.
Raffaele Marciello of Italy qualified third at 1:22.316 in the No. 777 Team WRT BMW M4. Teammate Kelvin van der Linde qualified fourth in the No. 46 Team WRT BMW after a best lap of 1:22.408. Van der Linde’s team includes MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who is making his four-wheeled IMS debut.
Van der Linde leads Marciello, 85-80, in the standings with 25 points available to the winner Saturday.
Van der Linde and Marciello teamed up to win this season at Nurburgring and Suzuka for the WRT BMW team, but they were separated at Bathurst and Spa and will continue to be rivals this weekend at IMS. There’s little to separate the two drivers, as van der Linde has three victories and Marciello two. The WRT team also has won the Indianapolis 8 Hour the last two years, so there’s no team advantage for either driver.
Row 3 was claimed by two teams featuring NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers. Connor De Phillippi qualified fifth at 1:22.445 in the No. 99 BMW M4 fielded by pole winners Random Vandals Racing. He will share that car with popular INDYCAR SERIES driver Conor Daly and Kenton Koch.
The No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG will start sixth after Chaz Mostert’s best lap of 1:22.506. Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power will compete in his first sports car race since 2003, sharing the car with fellow Australians Mostert and Kenny Habul.
Click these links to buy tickets and parking, to see the event schedule or to plan ahead for the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS. 

Saturday at IMS

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INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Oct. 17, 2025) – Information about Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS track activity Saturday, Oct. 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
SCHEDULE (All times local):
8 a.m.: Public Gate Opens
8:10-8:35 a.m.: TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School Race 1
8:50-9:35 a.m.: Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup North America Race 1
9:50-10:50 a.m.: GT4 America Race 1
10:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Intercontinental GT Challenge Pre-Race
12:20-8:20 p.m.: Intercontinental GT Challenge Race
8 p.m.: Public Gate Closes
TICKETS: $45 for General Admission seating for selected grandstands, infield viewing mounds, garage area access and Track Limits Live area in Pagoda Plaza. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
PUBLIC GATE OPEN (8 a.m.-8 p.m.): Gate 6PARKING: Paid parking is available in Lot 2 for $10. ADA parking is also available in Lot 2 for $10.
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions.
MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25, seniors (55 and over) are $23, and military (former and active) are $18. Tickets can be purchased online at https://imsmuseum.org/tickets/. Indianapolis 8 Hour gate admission must be purchased as well as Museum admission.