Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall Of Fame Museum welcomes back turbine power

NDIANAPOLIS, Monday, May 5, 2014 - Turbine power is returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, that is.

A special exhibit will open Thursday, May 8 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum showcasing the memorable times of turbine power at the world's most famous race course, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Eleven cars will be on display, dating to the first turbine appearance at IMS in 1955. Fans and history buffs will be able to enjoy and remember some of the true pioneers in motorsports -- the designers, owners and drivers of these unusual race cars. "The Turbine Era" display will feature:

Not your usual exhaust pipe: the Pratt & Whitney engine of the 1968 Lotus 56 Turbine

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

1955 SAC Fireboid Turbine
1962 John Zink Trackburner
1966 Jack Adams Aircraft Special
1967 STP Oil Treatment Special
1968 Shelby "Botany 500" Turbines (2)
1968 STP Lotus 56 Wedge Turbines (4)
1969 Jack Adams Turbine

"We are very excited to bring 11 turbine cars together for this unique display," said Ellen Bireley, Hall of Fame Museum director. "The turbines represent a unique era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and although they never won at the track, they are remembered by race fans around the world. We look forward to sharing the beautiful display with our patrons of the largest, most diversified collection of turbine cars ever assembled at one time."

Names associated with turbine power at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway read like a who's who of motorsports: Granatelli, Jones, Gurney, Shelby, Hill, Clark, McLaren, Hulme and Chapman -- all of whom are represented in the exhibit.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum opened in 1956 and is known for its historic collection of Indianapolis 500 winning cars, beginning with Ray Harroun's famous Marmon Wasp, which won the first 500 in 1911.

Some recent displays in the Hall of Fame Museum include The Ultimate Indianapolis 500 Winning Car Collection, featuring 67 Indianapolis 500 winning cars, and the Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Collection showcasing 11 cars ranging from a Formula 1 car to a USAC champ dirt car, to Indy cars to the Big Oly off-road truck Jones drove to twice win the Baja 1,000.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the month of May.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway