The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is the heart of the motorsports industry in Indianapolis and home of The Indianapolis 500 and The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. (Photo Courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
The Indianapolis region has been known as the "Racing Capital of the World" for nearly a century. It is a driving force of the motorsports industry as home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and internationally recognized events such as the Indianapolis 500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, and the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. It is home to a wide variety of race leagues, from the Indy Racing League (IRL) and United States Automobile Club (USAC) to sprint, midget, and outlaw racing as well as premier racing teams such as Andretti Green Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Tony Stewart Racing.
Adjacent to IMS is Gasoline Alley, the epicenter of the motorsports industry in Indianapolis and home to many race shops and manufacturers providing year-round to support the industry. The motorsports industry is highly technical, entrepreneurial, and innovative, employing more than 8,000 skilled workers in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and technology fields.Â
Factors that make Indianapolis an exceptional location for motorsports businesses include:
Access to Higher Education
Educational programs designed to support the motorsports industry have been developed by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Marian College, and Purdue University.
Highly Skilled & Mobile Workforce
The region currently supports an estimated 440 companies in the motorsports industry, employing more than 8,000 people who have relocated to Indianapolis from countries including Australia, England, and Germany. 70% of employees have earned an associates degree or higher in fields such as 3D and computer-aided design; aerodynamic, mechanical, and electrical engineering; fabrication; scale development of race car models for testing; and flow analysis.
Economic Diversity
Indianapolis is home to a diverse mix of businesses that supports the motorsports industry, including companies that produce components such as radiators, steering wheels, shocks, brakes, and motors; sports medicine, marketing and media companies; and charitable foundations.
Technological Innovation
The pace of innovation in motorsports is so great that new parts and technologies often become obsolete before patent applications can be completed.
Global Interest
The IMS is home to three of the world's top races: the Indianapolis 500, the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. The industry attracts professionals from around the globe to work in specialized racing and support industries.
Tax Incentives
Recent tax incentives allow every component of a race car (except tires and accessories) purchased by an Indiana company and used in Indiana to be exempt from the state sales tax.
Economic Development
The Indiana Motorsports Association was formed in 2005 to promote economic growth for the motorsports industry in Indiana.
Motorsports-related businesses that call Indianapolis home include:
- Indy Racing League (IRL) Teams: Andretti Green Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, PDM Racing
- NASCAR Teams: Tony Stewart Racing
- NHRA Teams: Don Prudhomme
- Open Wheel Racing Series Teams: Walker Racing, Mi-Jack Conquest Racing
- Sanctioning Organizations: USAC, OWRS, Indy Racing League
- Sports Marketing & Retail: Just Marketing, MainGate