Freedom 250 Grand Prix Begins With Trump Flag Start

President Donald Trump waved the green flag on Sunday afternoon, August 23, 2026, officially starting the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a historic IndyCar race held on the streets of Washington, D.C. The event served as the grand finale to a summer of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The race began shortly after 1 p.m. ET on the National Mall, with 25 drivers set to complete 147 laps around a temporary 1.7-mile, seven-turn course that weaves past landmarks including the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian museums. Drivers were expected to reach speeds up to 185 mph on the circuit. Trump, who created the race by executive order as part of the semiquincentennial commemorations, took a ceremonial lap around the track inside his armored presidential limousine, known as "The Beast," before waving the starting flag at the start-finish line in front of the Capitol.

Prior to the green flag, military flyovers featuring iconic Air Force bombers, including a stealth bomber, roared over the track. The aerial demonstration prompted a three-hour pause in air traffic at nearby Ronald Reagan National Airport. Trump greeted IndyCar series owner...