A New Era Begins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
On March 31, 2025, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum officially reopened its doors with a private red carpet event, marking the culmination of an $89 million transformation. This wasn’t just a renovation—it was a full re-imagining of how the history of IndyCar is experienced.
The star attraction? Not just the cars on display, but six new SimCraft GRID1 racing simulators, which now offer visitors the chance to run a virtual qualifying lap around the world-famous 2.5-mile oval. It’s the first time guests can actually feel what it’s like to be behind the wheel at the Racing Capital of the World—and it’s turning heads across motorsport and museum circles alike.
SimCraft Simulators Let Fans Drive the Indy 500
This isn’t just a screen and a seat.
The new Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum simulators are part of a permanent interactive installation that puts fans inside the car, in motion, and in control. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong Indy 500 fan, the experience is as close to real racing as you can get without strapping into an actual Dallara.
Using SimCraft’s GRID1 motion simulator platform, the exhibit lets visitors compete in a solo qualifying run, feeling every bump, yaw, and correction as they hustle through Turn 1.
And this is no off-the-shelf arcade cabinet. These are SimCraft motion simulators built on real-world physics, developed and refined in collaboration with professional drivers and race teams.
Why SimCraft Was Chosen for the IMS Museum Redesign
According to Mandi Bender, VP of Operations at the Museum, the decision was rooted in one key factor: realism.
“When we evaluated our options, SimCraft’s reputation for high-fidelity racing excellence, combined with their direct involvement in motorsports, set them apart.”
SimCraft’s track record backs that up. Their motion systems are already trusted by several professional race teams, including NASCAR Cup Series teams and manufacturers like Riley Technologies. Most recently, SimCraft earned NASCAR Cup Series approval for its APEX GT racing simulators—marking them as one of the few systems used in professional team shops for driver prep.
And the Museum’s mission—to educate, preserve, and innovate—is a perfect fit for SimCraft’s ethos: realism, inclusivity, and accessibility.
Inside the Simulator Bay: GRID1 Technology at IMS
The simulator bay includes five GRID1 GT simulators and one ADA-accessible GRID1 unit, marking the first time that a motion racing simulator of this caliber has been fully wheelchair accessible.
Each simulator features:
- Yaw motion technology, the most crucial axis for racing feel
- A robust physics-based motion platform with tactile feedback
- MPI and Gomez Sim Industries steering wheels
- Large-format LG UltraGear displays for immersive visuals
- iRacing software with a fully scanned version of the IMS oval
This configuration delivers an experience that’s not just thrilling—it’s instructive. The motion cues help guests feel grip loss, throttle oversteer, and the famous “push” through Turn 3, just like a real driver.
This isn’t entertainment for the sake of flash. It’s an interactive motorsports installation designed to connect people with what racing really feels like
A Fully Inclusive Experience, Built for All Fans
Accessibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s built in.
The inclusion of an ADA-compliant motion racing simulator ensures that fans of all abilities can participate in the Indy 500 experience. This makes the IMS Museum one of the only motorsport museums in the world to offer an equal-access sim racing experience that moves, reacts, and instructs.
The analog here? Think of it like moving from a photo exhibit of the Grand Canyon… to standing on the rim yourself. Static to immersive. Observation to sensation.
SimCraft’s center-of-mass design and precision yaw motion feedback mean even a first-time driver can get a visceral feel for car control—regardless of age, ability, or experience.
Quotes from SimCraft and IMS Leadership
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is hallowed ground in motorsport. To have our technology permanently installed here is a huge honor. We believe everyone should get to feel what it's like to run a lap at Indy — and now they can.
Our goal was to blend racing heritage with modern engagement. SimCraft helped us do exactly that.
These quotes not only validate the collaboration—they define the future of motorsport storytelling in museums. It’s no longer just about history. It’s about feeling it.
What It Means for Racing Fans and the Museum’s Future
The simulators are already drawing buzz—and not just from the fanbase. Drivers, influencers, and even IndyCar alumni are expected to post lap times and challenge the public throughout the season.
For the Museum, this marks a shift toward interactive, repeatable, and dynamic experiences that extend far beyond one-time visits. The GRID1 installation isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a cultural shift—bringing race fans into the action, not just the audience.
The Museum has hinted at future plans for time attack leaderboards, esports tie-ins, and expanded track selection. What was once a static timeline of racing is now a responsive, evolving space where the racing experience in Indianapolis can be re-lived again and again.
Plan Your Visit to the New IMS Museum Simulator Experience
The new simulators are now live as of April 1, 2025. Visitors can book onsite or access the GRID1 experience on a first-come, first-served basis throughout Museum hours.
Tips for a great first run:
- Bring your competitive spirit — and maybe your racing gloves
- Expect to wait briefly during peak hours (especially race weekends)
- Share your lap time and tag @SimCraft to join the online leaderboard community
To learn more about SimCraft’s broader technology platform or explore full-motion setups for home or team use, visit the motion racing simulators page.
A Lasting Impact on Sim Racing and Museum Culture
The SimCraft debut at IMS doesn’t just change how the public experiences racing—it subtly redefines what a museum exhibit can be.
Most interactive museum displays involve touchscreens or AR overlays. But here, visitors aren’t swiping a timeline—they’re gripping a wheel, adjusting brake pressure, and managing their line through Turn 2. This isn’t storytelling. It’s seat time.
And that’s intentional.
We don’t see this as an entertainment gimmick. This is about connecting fans to the physics of racing in a way that’s emotionally and neurologically engaging.
That quote isn’t fluff. It’s grounded in SimCraft’s simulation philosophy, which values “translational seat time” above all—a phrase meaning that time spent in the simulator teaches skills that transfer to real-world driving. From elite drivers like Ryan Hunter-Reay and Scott Pruett, to 11-year-old champion Lucas Palacio, the principle holds true.
The IMS Museum partnership now places that philosophy in front of more than 150,000 visitors per year, making it one of the most visible educational racing exhibits in the country.
Tech Specs That Set the GRID1 Apart
GRID1 Simulator Highlights:
- Yaw-focused motion platform (most critical for driver development)
- Center-of-mass movement architecture—shared only with NASA
- iRacing integration with real-world telemetry overlays
- Modular seating for both GT and karting positions
- ADA version with electronic pedal actuation and custom ingress
These aren’t consumer gaming rigs with extra trim—they are professional-grade motion simulators designed to mirror real car behavior with 90% fidelity across motion and control systems.
One of the biggest advantages? The hardware is built to accommodate a wide range of drivers, from kids and newcomers to seasoned track veterans.
This also opens the door to potential future use by:
- STEM education programs (physics, motion, and driver reaction studies)
- Race schools offering simulator intro courses
- Fan engagement zones during IndyCar race weekends
What’s Next for SimCraft at IMS
The GRID1 installation may be the beginning—not the end—of SimCraft’s presence at the Museum.
Already, there’s talk of:
- Enabling multi-car ghost racing via iRacing infrastructure
- Running NASCAR and IMSA cars on the IMS road course during applicable weekends
- Launching timed challenges tied to Indy 500 race week
- Featuring laps and feedback from current IndyCar pros
It’s a strategic move: SimCraft gets a public-facing showcase at the most iconic venue in American motorsport, and the IMS Museum gains a modern, interactive exhibit that draws repeat visitors and opens the door to deeper racing engagement.
As Sean Patrick MacDonald puts it:
“We’ve always said our systems aren’t just sims—they’re tools for training, tools for teaching, and now tools for storytelling.”
Why This Matters for the Broader Racing Community
This installation comes at a time when sim racing is becoming a core part of real-world driver development—and not just for the elite. Amateur racers, young karting stars, and club-level drivers are all using simulators to stay sharp between track sessions.
The SimCraft GRID1 system now stands as a literal and symbolic bridge between sim racing and real racing—physically located at the gateway to American open-wheel history.
By placing these motion simulators in a museum, SimCraft and the IMS Museum are telling fans: “This isn’t a game. This is part of the sport.”
That message has already resonated at places like:
Each use case underscores the same idea: simulators are not a novelty. They’re a training ground—and a way in.
Final Lap: A Simulator That Honors the Legends
In a building filled with history—championship-winning cars, Hall of Fame inductees, decades of stories—the SimCraft installation doesn’t distract. It honors.
Because what better way to respect the legends of Indy than to let the next generation feel what it’s like to chase them?
Visitors may come for the history, but they’ll leave asking the same question SimCraft has been asking since day one:
“What if you could feel what it’s like to run a lap at Indy?”
Now, you can.
FAQ: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Simulators
What simulators are installed at the IMS Museum?
Six SimCraft GRID1 simulators—five GT setups and one ADA-accessible unit—allow visitors to experience a qualifying lap around the Indy 500 oval.
Are the simulators accessible to guests with disabilities?
Yes. The ADA-accessible GRID1 simulator is the world’s first motion racing sim of this caliber built specifically for wheelchair users.
Can you race others on the simulators?
The current experience is focused on solo qualifying laps, but leaderboard integrations and multi-user events may roll out later in 2025.
Is the experience included with museum admission?
Simulator access is typically included with general admission, but time slots may vary based on capacity.
