On track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

It took less than two minutes to circle the two-and-a-half-mile oval track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a Chevy Camaro convertible pace car, but it took 30 minutes to brush the tangles out of my hair. It was worth it.

Our driver Martin Plowman was a cheeky Brit, who had earlier told a crowd of journalists that he was plucked from the streets to drive us around the track. In reality, he’s an experienced racing driver currently competing in the American LeMans series of racing.

“These drivers are athletes,” says Chris Grahl of Visit Indy. “They do cardio, and core strength workouts that help them stay fit. And they will do exercises to help them stay mentally fit while racing, too.”

Plowman trains five days a week and follows a strict muscle-building and recovery diet that helps increase endurance, improve strength and resist g-forces from the high speeds during races.

“We were doing 100 in the turn,” said Plowman. “I imagine a race car will do double that speed.”

Visitors can get on track in a couple of ways. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum offers a Grounds Tour on select dates through from March to November. The 90-minute tour includes IMS landmarks normally open only to officials, drivers and teams during events. Guests visit the timing-and-scoring suite in the Pagoda, the Media Center, Victory Podium, Gasoline Alley garage area and take a ride around the famed 2.5-mile IMS oval in one of the museum’s tour buses, concluding with a stop at the “Yard of Bricks” at the start/finish line.

But if it’s speed you are looking for, sign up for the Indy Racing Experience, a two-seat ride that gives passengers the opportunity to experience top speeds that are normally only reached by elite racing drivers. A modified vehicle allows a passenger to sit behind the driver, but in every other way, it is a true IZOD IndyCar and it can reach up to 180 miles per hour. The cost for the experience is $499.

Visit the Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
The Hall of Fame Museum is open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from March through October and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. from November through February. Extended hours are featured during May activities. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6-15, and children under age 6 are admitted free.
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