Washington D.C. hosts inaugural IndyCar race around National Mall

Washington, D.C., will host its first-ever IndyCar race this weekend as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix transforms streets around the National Mall into a temporary racetrack, an unprecedented event created by an executive order from President Donald Trump to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. The 147-lap, approximately 250-mile race is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, following practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday, August 22.

The event was established by a presidential executive order signed on January 30, 2026, which authorized federal agencies to grant necessary permits for a race celebrating the country's semiquincentennial. The 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit will pass landmarks including the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives, and several Smithsonian museums. Penske Corporation, whose subsidiary IndyCar operates the race, is providing the majority of funding, with the company's president, Bud Denker, stating the cost exceeds the $21 million spent on the annual Detroit Grand Prix. The District of Columbia will cover limited costs for street repaving and manhole sealing, which the city will be reimbursed for.

Organizers anticipate about 140,000 attendees each...