An IndyCar driver's guide to Indianapolis

Former Indianapolis 500 champion Marcus Ericsson hails from Sweden but calls Circle City home. Here are his top local recommendations ahead of the Indy 500.

Indianapolis – known as the Crossroads of America for its critical role as a transportation hub during the US Civil War – has its fair share of attractions, from rugged outdoor experiences like the White River State Park to the public art installations scattered throughout its vibrant Mass Ave Cultural District.

But the Indiana state capital may be best known for its sports culture. While fans flock to the stands of Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse – home to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and the NBA's Indiana Pacers, respectively– nowhere is the city's competitive spirit more electrifying than at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which can hold up to 400,000 people. The crown jewel of the city's calendar is the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race each May – a race that typically attracts 300,000 spectators. It's a tradition that unites generations of fans and defines the city's identity.

In 2019, former Formula One driver Marcus Ericsson relocated from his native Sweden to Indianapolis to fully immerse himself in the tight-knit and high-powered IndyCar community. In "the Racing Capital of the World", Ericsson fills his days with exercising, exploring, biking, running trails and dining at the city's internationally inspired restaurants.

"We have fun sports with the Pacers and the Colts, and obviously the IMS [Indiana Motor Speedway] and now the new museum [the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum] which is amazing," says Ericsson. "There are a lot of fun little places, like restaurants and bars as well. It's a really cool city to live in."

He adds: "People are very friendly and very open. So, for me, it felt like home very quickly."

Here are Ericsson's favourite ways to experience Indianapolis. 

Indianapolis has plenty of famous foods, like the spicy shrimp cocktail at St Elmo Steak House or the widely available pork tenderloin sandwich. For a sampling of Indianapolis' dining scene, Ericsson recommends exploring Massachusetts Avenue, a mile-long street running diagonally into downtown, lined with lively bars and restaurants. "Ericsson and his wife love going out for dinner at Modita, an Asian fusion eatery. Located in the Bottleworks Hotel, an Art Deco boutique hotel that was once the country's largest Coca-Cola bottling plant, Modita's menu is infused with the same spirit of reinvention. Executive Chef Megan Stoller draws inspiration from several Asian food cultures to reimagine classic dishes like sushi and dim sum. Ericsson's recommendation: "Get the bao buns, they're very, very good. I always get them every time I go." 

If you want to get out of the city centre, Ericsson suggests heading to Broad Ripple, an eclectic neighbourhood just north of downtown, where you can unwind over Neapolitan-style pizza at Diavola.

Website: https://www.modita.com/ 

Address: 850 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 110, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: 317-316-0470

Instagram: @modita.restaurant

"As a race car driver, I always have to stay active to be fit to drive. And that's a big part of my life. I need to be outdoors and be healthy," Ericsson says. "One thing that I love about Indianapolis is that we have something called the Monon Trail, which is a trail from downtown Indianapolis all the way up to north of Indianapolis.

"You can jump on that trail from everywhere in the city. People spend a lot of time walking or cycling there, so it's always super busy and is a great way to stay active," says Ericsson. 

The trail began as a railroad line linking to Chicago and Louisville; today, it's a popular 41km biking and walking trail. Extending from the northern suburbs into the heart of Indianapolis, where it connects to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the north end of Massachusetts Avenue, the trail winds through the city's central neighbourhoods past popular wine bars and cafes.

To explore a little further out of the city, Ericsson ventures 20 minutes north of Indianapolis to Eagle Creek Park. "Eagle Creek Park is the largest park in Indianapolis, and it has a reservoir and some pretty nice trails," he says. "I go there in the summer, and you can rent a kayak or just walk around and get out in nature." 

Website: https://www.bikethemonon.com/

Ericsson's top pick for a wow-worthy night on the town is Vida, a chef-driven establishment housed in an unpretentious building just off Massachusetts Avenue. Helmed by Indiana native Chef Thomas Melvin – a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes – Vida is known for its multi-course menu of artfully plated dishes prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farms. Guests can observe the chefs in the open kitchen, which is framed by a hydroponic "green wall" that supplies fresh herbs. Ericsson says that because the menu changes almost daily, he never quite knows what to expect when dining there. But the ambiance and service remain the same, with the crackle of a double-sided fireplace casting a warm glow and the impressive wine vault inviting guests to sip something special. 

"My wife and I are kind of foodies, and when we travel, we always like trying fine dining restaurants. Vida reminds me of the high-end, Michelin-star restaurants that we go to internationally," says Ericsson.  "We usually go there for special occasions, like Valentine's Day or birthdays."  

Website: https://www.vida-restaurant.com/ 

Address: 601 E New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Phone: 317-420-2323

Instagram: @vida.restaurant

Sports culture doesn't totally revolve around IndyCar in Indianapolis. "The Pacers basketball team is really fun to go and watch live at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse," says Ericsson. "When my friends are in town, we try to go down and see them." Designed to reflect Indiana's rich basketball heritage, it's the home court for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and the WNBA's Indiana Fever. Beyond basketball, the venue hosts big-name concerts, college tournaments and other events, including the AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025 Game in July.  

Website: http://www.gainbridgefieldhouse.com/ 

Address: 125 S Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: 317-917-2727

Instagram: @gainbridgefieldhouse

Indianapolis has many cultural landmarks that explore artistry and achievement from different perspectives. In downtown Indianapolis, the esteemed Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art houses one of the most celebrated collections of Native American artworks, and the Soldiers and Sailors monument honours Indianians who've served from the Revolutionary War to the Spanish-American War. But one of the city's most recognisable cultural attractions is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum which preserves and interprets the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the legendary Indianapolis 500 – the world's largest single-day sporting event.

After a 17-month renovation, the museum reopened in April 2025 intending to make the history and culture of racing more accessible to non-fans intrigued by the racetrack. But even for racing experts like Ericsson, the museum is a thrilling experience. 

"I recently went to the reopening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum which they just put like, $60m (£45.6m) into updating to make it a state-of-the-art museum," says Ericsson. "I was blown away when I went there – it's really helpful to understand 100 years of history and gives you an idea of how the Indy 500 became so big and popular."

Located in the centre of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway racetrack, the museum honours more than a century of racing history. The Speedway itself, a 4km track built in 1909, is a National Historic Landmark, and daily tours allow guests to get an in-depth look at the history and significance of this sporting venue. What began with a collection of just 12 race cars has grown into one of the world's most famous motorsports collections, now featuring more than 150 vehicles and thousands of other racing artefacts. One of the museum's highlights is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, which honours legends of racing like Wilbur Shaw, AJ Foyt and Janet Guthrie.  

Website: https://imsmuseum.org/

Address: 4750 W 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222

Phone: 463-244-2680

Instagram: @imsmuseum

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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