For the first time in 40 years, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum has undergone a major renovation and is now reopening its doors to the public after a 17-month overhaul.

Years in the making, the renovation has brought new life to the museum, which--despite being an entirely different entity from the track--is located inside the confines of IMS between turns one and two.

With an emphasis on immersion, the revamped shrine to the Indianapolis 500—and the many other events it has hosted throughout its 100-plus-year history—adds 40,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and numerous new features, some of which focus not only on past and present titans of motorsports, but inspiring a new generation of racing fans, history buffs, and maybe even a few of tomorrow's speedway stars.

One of the highlights of the museum is the new "Qualifying Zone," an interactive space designed to showcase all of the moving parts that go into a successful race team, be it a lightning-fast pit stop, a race-winning strategy call or a daredevil, four-lap qualifying run from behind the wheel.

A bank of racing simulators puts you in the literal driver's seat and gives guests a shot at pole position at IMS--with the best four-lap runs posted on a scoreboard for all to see. Nearby, a pit stand offers the perspective of a race strategist, allowing you to make split-second decisions on tires and refueling that can make or break a race. Finally, a timed pit-stop challenge, which tasks you with servicing a car during the Indy 500, gives you a chance to feel the pressure of a green-flag stop as a rear-tire changer.

Other features of the Qualifying Zone include a deconstructed Dallara Indy car with augmented reality displays detailing each component, a reaction time test and even a soft-play area for young guests.

Directly adjacent to that new feature is the "Innovation Workshop," a classroom space that will be utilized by the new education department to offer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) programming for K-12 students. The curriculum will examine the concepts, challenges and innovations that drive a successful race team, and the museum will also provide opportunities for career exploration programs designed to promote job opportunities in the racing industry.

Inspiring young visitors to dream about a career in racing—and not just as a driver—was an intentional choice, according to Vice President of Curation and Education Jason Vansickle.

"There are a lot of lucrative jobs in auto racing, a lot of experiences--whether it be in INDYCAR or other forms, especially here in Indianapolis--and opportunities that I don't think young kids understand are there," Vansickle said. "They're not going to become a mechanic the day after they show up here, but they could say, 'This is a path I can [take]. I don't have to just watch it on TV or from the grandstands. I can be a part of that.'

"Those are the things that I think we're excited to continue to build," he added, "whether that be in the Innovation Workshop, Qualifying Zone or other future projects that we have on the horizon."

The interactive portions—as well as more traditional displays, like the vehicles and artifacts in the Gasoline Alley Gallery, Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery and other rotating exhibits—aren't only meant to stoke the passions of the next generation. It's meant to excite those who have had a life-long passion for racing, too.

"The Qualifying Zone is an area where people can stimulate their passion or knowledge that may or may not have been there before, both in younger generations or in traditional gearheads, and exposes them to things that we haven't had in the past," said Director of Education Jake Apollos. "That's what we're focusing on, getting those experiences, the exposure, to stimulate that passion in the next generation while encouraging the passion in our current generation."

The IMS Museum officially opens on April 2. Tickets start at $25. Admission is free for children younger than five.

For more information, visit imsmuseum.org.