Inside INdiana Business Television Podcast

In the final installment of our “Business at the Brickyard” series, Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick wraps up the month of May from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—where racing, culture, and commerce collide.

In this episode:


The Indy 500 sells out for the first time since 2016, lifting the local TV blackout.

Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles discusses the momentum behind IndyCar and a new media partnership with Fox.

Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson shares how he prepares mentally and physically for the 500.

The town of Speedway honors Al Unser Sr. with a new $2 million gateway at 16th and Main.

Purdue expands its motorsports engineering presence at Dallara’s U.S. HQ.

A look inside Winchester Speedway, one of Indiana’s most historic short tracks.

Indianapolis announces a new sister city: Le Mans, France—home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

Plus: Statewide headlines from Cummins, Mammoth Solar, South Bend Airport, and Gary’s new convention center.

On this week’s Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, we continue our “Business at the Brickyard” series from the newly renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The $60 million overhaul is already drawing crowds and boosting memberships, with new interactive exhibits, STEM learning opportunities and a major spotlight on Roger Penske’s legacy.

Penske Entertainment’s Allison Melangton joins Gerry to discuss how IndyCar is strengthening its connection to fans across Indiana — from porch parties and statewide fan fests to collaborations with the arts community.

Also in this episode:


Big sales at the State Fairgrounds: Mecum Auctions wraps up nine days of bidding with more than 3,000 collector cars and over $100 million in transactions.

Roche ramps up in Indy: The company will invest $550 million in its diagnostics campus and bring hundreds of jobs to the city.

Slate Auto chooses Warsaw: The electric vehicle startup is repurposing a former printing facility to build affordable EVs, with production starting in 2026.

“100 Days to Indy” returns: The hit docuseries gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar stars and their lives off the track.

Sam Schmidt marks 25 years: The racing legend expands his impact through the Driven NeuroRecovery Center in Carmel, offering new hope to people with spinal cord injuries.

Higher ed investments: Goshen College opens a $21 million nursing training center, and Eli Lilly teams up with Purdue for a $250 million research collaboration.

Trackside eats: Yelp’s Brittany Smith shares five fan-favorite restaurants near Indiana racetracks, including stops in Speedway, Kokomo and Hobart.


As the Indy 500 approaches, we spotlight the people, companies and communities fueling Indiana’s motorsports economy.

In this edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, the business of motorsports is in full throttle as Business at the Brickyard continues. From Gasoline Alley to global headquarters for brands, we explore why Indiana is one of the top three motorsports hubs in the world. Veteran executive Rollie Helmling breaks down the industry’s $1 billion impact, and why Indy’s brand is key to future growth.

Plus:

• The hidden economic engine inside IndyCar: $100 million in cars, $350K chassis, $1M engines, and elite STEM careers.

• An Italian racing school plants roots in Indianapolis, training the next generation of mechanics and engineers—including a Hamilton Southeastern grad.

• IMS revs up sustainability: composting, recycling, and new initiatives to reduce waste from 300,000 race day fans.

• Eli Lilly breaks ground on its $4.5 billion Lebanon Medicine Foundry, creating 400 jobs in the LEAP Innovation District.

• Aer Lingus launches a transatlantic connection from Indianapolis to Dublin.

• Anne Frank trees grown in Jackson County head to schools across the U.S.

• Kyle Cummins keeps Hoosier dirt track tradition alive with a sprint car career rooted in small-town Indiana grit.



The Month of May is just heating up. We’ll be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway all month with exclusive coverage of Indiana’s most iconic economic driver.

In this Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick special edition, the month of May roars to life at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the kickoff of Business at the Brickyard. As the 109th running of the Indy 500 approaches, we explore how motorsports is fueling Indiana’s economy to the tune of more than $1 billion annually. From Victory Circle to the new IMS Museum, the Speedway is more than just a race—it’s an economic engine.

Plus:


IMS President Doug Boles discusses record-breaking ticket sales, and the potential for a grandstand sellout.

The $60M IMS Museum reopens with inclusive, accessible features for all fans.

Inside the 500 Festival’s $50M impact on Indianapolis and the cultural power of race month traditions.

The University of Evansville hosts the first Innovate Indianaevent of 2025 as excitement builds around I-69’s final bridge link to Kentucky.

Hoosier farmers weigh in as tariffs once again shake the global trade landscape.

Warsaw’s Slate Electric Trucks lands a new production site and Bezos-backed momentum.

McCutcheon High School in Lafayette takes home a robotics world title as Indiana FIRST programs surge in student participation.

Doug Boles returns to break down venue upgrades, Snake Pit strategy, and yes—Gronk’s controversial turn as Grand Marshal.


From dirt tracks to Victory Lane, Inside INdiana Business will be on-site all month long with stories from every corner of Indiana motorsports.

 

In this episode of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, global innovation arrives in a bigger way in Indiana. Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play is expanding to the new IU Launch Accelerator at 16 Tech, aiming to recruit and grow life sciences startups in Indianapolis and connect them with Warsaw’s growing medtech hub. CEO Saeed Amidi says Indiana’s combination of university talent and global companies like Eli Lilly makes it a powerful new frontier for innovation.

Plus:



How the new IU Health incubator at 16 Tech could transform Indianapolis into a national player in biosciences.




Roche Diagnostics and Eli Lilly announce major U.S. manufacturing expansions, with the potential for Indiana to land more investment.




Community Health Network opens the first phase of its Westfield campus, featuring AI-assisted patient care.




A new Ronald McDonald Care Mobile rolls out in Evansville to combat Indiana’s high infant and maternal mortality rates.




Also in this episode:



Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon launches a new railroad to drive economic development.




Terre Haute’s Hulman Field Air Base plans a new $13 million small arms training range.




Fort Wayne breaks ground on an 8,400-seat soccer stadium ahead of joining USL League One.




A Noble County fire department auctions off a pumper truck to fund new equipment.




Gaylor Electric becomes the first company to twice win National Contractor of the Year honors.




IU Indianapolis expands STEM research space with a new lab building at 16 Tech.




Ball State completes a $60 million renovation of Cooper Science Building.




Indiana Tech launches a new advanced manufacturing innovation center at Electric Works in Fort Wayne.




And:



Hud Mellencamp and Hard Truth Distilling launch a new whiskey celebrating Indiana farmers and the Mellencamp legacy.




The Pacers surge ahead in the NBA Playoffs as Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever prepare for a historic season.




Inside INdiana Business previews next week's kickoff of Business at the Brickyard coverage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.