Behind the Bricks: Final IMS Museum Basement Tour

[@itwontcomeout5678]

From Chicago and I’ve never been to Indianapolis. I need to go someday. It’s so close! 🏎️

[@michaelhogg324]

Yes you do and also for the Race as well!

[@kenmason356]

I won my index at the Lucas Oil Dragway in September of 2019 and the next day went to Kiss the Bricks for my First Win at Indy and see the museum. I will never forget it. It is a very Special Place and am looking forward to seeing this in 2025.

[@robfultz7946]

Absolutely amazing! I always wanted to take the tour but never got around to it. Love this! I also love ALL of the Behind the Bricks series. Doug is an amazing person and love his passion! Can't wait to see the new museum!

[@jimparker7778]

Indy during the 1950s/60s/70s is a remarkable era. Great owners & drivers; incredible gains in technology, breathtaking increases in speed. As horsepower, brakes and tires improved, drivers and teams were able to safely wring-out performance that nobody ever believed would be possible.

[@jeffreyoldham55]

What *amazing* cars! Thanks for the tour, Doug!

[@Demise90Racing]

This was amazing. Its a shame I won't be able to visit the museum when I make my first trip to the 500 in 2024, but I'm looking forward to going back in 2025 and seeing the amazing renovations.

[@camrsr5463]

The museum is going to look amazing in 2025!

[@dawndavis647]

On a visit to the museum I couldn’t find my dad but had seen him talking with a guy, they were pointing out things on a few cars! Well they both disappeared, come to find out it was Donald Davidson who took my dad to the basement for a private tour!! We connected when they came up from the elevator(as my sister and I had been looking for our dad Donald). A special memory that I will cherish as my dad is in Memory Care and Donald has since retired. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall as these two Donald’s swapped stories!! I had to edit this, I thought Donald D had passed but have been since corrected!

[@stevebean1543]

Donald Davidson retired at the end of 2020, but he is still living as of October 2023.

[@dawndavis647]

@@stevebean1543 oh I did not know that! I thought I heard he had passed. I will edit ✍️ thank you!

[@j_e_hill]

Awesome. I sure wish I hadn’t passed up the chance to see the basement in person when I had the chance. I love the rich history of F1 and it’s champions at the Indy 500. And that Fangio Mercedes W196! Wow…

[@robersonclan4879]

I was lucky to get access to "The Basement" about 15 years ago. Back then it was stacked deep with rows of cars, much more packed than in this video. They had several large Packards and a powder blue Cord along with many, many pace cars including the very first Dodge Viper to roll off the line. Saw Janet's car, Vucky's 1973 Sugaripe Prune Special, and a stage coach which had come straight off the set of a movie starring a famous move star whose name escapes me. Saw Pancho's 85 pole winner and Scott Brayton's car from the same year. Perhaps the most unique item was a Rolls Royce with bullet proof glass that had once belonged to Hitler and was purchased by Tony Hulman from the Shaw of Iran.....or so the story goes. It was a an opportunity I will never forget.

[@The52car]

Sad I didn't get to do one of the tours but looking forward to the new space.

[@johnjones5354]

You should have seen the basement when they first started the tours. It was jam packed with all kinds of cars, so much that it was difficult to get around in. The lighting wasn't the best, and there were no signs describing each car. Now, (or at least until the basement tours ceased and the basement was emptied), it's more like an exhibit in the museum. Still great to see, but I preferred the old basement.

[@clifffield1]

Thank you, what an awesome collection...

[@tannerhall3344]

wow this was awesome!! Cant wait to see the museum

[@ku4uv]

Can't wait to see the new museum when it opens!

[@shawnbarczak1766]

As crazy as this may sound...the basement had always been a sacred place...as much as I think it should be open...a part of me feels it should remain a secret aspect...😢Doug you know best to keeping the speedway important.

[@joegangi6110]

Love it, but wish you had included “Basement Bessie” in the video. My Uncle Paul (Russo) and Ray Nicholas built that baby.

[@carwest11]

Well well well. Very well done Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

[@carypyke935]

Thank you. Sir !!!

[@joec91660]

Bucket list !

[@michaeltubbs272]

Can’t wait

[@charlesgrove9894]

The basement and all those cars are going to be general admission?!?

[@airplanes42]

Perfect circle was a sponsor on the turbine car? hahaha.

[@shawnschweikhardt3957]

Hey that’s my uncle carl!!

[@davdhartung9817]

Clueless?! That is a F1 car ! Raced at high speed tracks like Avus in Germany.

[@alistairarchibald1312]

hey just putting this out there @IMS if you need to make some room in there I will take that GT40 home, just sayin

[@WandaChase-l2s]

Joana Locks

[@KristinEnriquez-q5t]

Kuhic Field

[@plantfeeder6677]

Okay right off the bat this curator/guide pissed me off. He bables on about the Mercedes F-1 car that wasn't an F-1 car(F-1 is for OPEN WHEEL cars only)and only mentions that Jochin Rindt drove the last Ferrari to win Lemans. Now for the rest of the story. Not only is this the last Ferrari to ever win Lemans in 1965, it is the first car by an AMERICAN RACING TEAM to win Lemans(NART-North American Racing Team) oh and Rindts TEAMMATE?!!! An American named Masten Gregory! The Kansas City Flash! The Ferrari team wanted the car in second to win because it had Dunlop tires(which is why it was in second due to a blown tire)which sponsored Ferrari. The NART Ferrari had Goodyear tires. The factory actually approached The late great Luigi Chinetti, NART team owner to swap places and they'd make it worth his while with big discounts on future cars(he was the North American dealer for Ferrari). He basically told them to go pound sand as he was flabbergasted they would tell his drivers to not win Lemans. Leaving Masten Gregory's name out is akin to leaving out Ken Miles when telling the tale of Shelby Automotive.😠 The internet will keep you clueless people. It's no substitute for a book...EVER!!

[@michaelsturm6213]

The Mercedes W196 had two configurations, including the Streamliner configuration shown in the Museum. It was used at high speed tracks (Reims, Monza, Silverstone) and not only participated in Formula 1 races, but won several. So the guide was correct on that point.

[@pbandj37]

The Mercedes is a W196. The W196 won three F1 Grand Prix in 1954-55 (1954 French GP and 1954 & 1955 Italian GPs). It is the only non-open wheel car to win a Grand Prix.

[@pbandj37]

NART was backed by one American and one Dutch man, and founded by Chinetti, who was Italian. Calling it an American team might be a bit of a stretch.