Recreations & Leisure
Sports are an important part of Indianapolis' history. The Indianapolis 500 race, run every Memorial Day weekend, is the world's best-attended, single day sporting event, drawing over 350,000 spectators each year. In August, the track hosts NASCAR enthusiasts for the Brickyard 400, a major race in the NASCAR circuit. The rest of the year, visitors can tour the Speedway Hall of Fame museum, a treasure trove of vintage cars, racing gear, and other Indy car memorabilia. The Speedway tour also includes a ride around the track, albeit at a little slower pace. The Indianapolis Colts professional football team and the Indiana Pacers basketball team draw huge crowds, as do the nearby Indiana University and Purdue basketball and football games. College sports lovers will also enjoy the NCAA Hall of Champions, an interactive museum just outside of downtown, that gives visitors the opportunity to hear athletes and coaches tell about their contributions in their own words.
Outdoor sports lovers will appreciate the 174 parks dotted throughout the city. White River State Park, just outside of downtown, and Broad Ripple Park, on the near north side, feature tennis courts, a public pool, and sports trails as well as plenty of green space in which to relax.
The Brickyard Crossing golf course, designed by renowned golf architect, Pete Dye, is open to the public and located adjacent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The course hosts a senior PGA golf tournament each summer.