Trump's 250 teams put final touches on DC streets for weekend Indy Car, Grand Prix-style race

Fans hope President Trump will wave the green flag that starts the race.

By Ian Maile

Published: August 16, 2026 9:34pm

The Trump White House and its partners are putting the finishing touches on this weekend's Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., that will feature the cars and stars of the NTT IndyCar Series.

Racing events will begin Saturday, with the main race starting at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 23, airing live on FOX.

Drivers will complete 147 laps on a seven-turn, 1.66-mile street circuit, driving 250 miles past all the historic sights the nation's capital has to offer in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Last month, President Donald Trump welcomed IndyCar drivers Àlex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukas to the White House to promote the historic race.

The race cars, which can approach speeds of 200 mph, will travel nearly eight times faster than the posted 25 mph speed limit along Pennsylvania Avenue NW, along which is the White House.

“If we did that during the regular day, I think people would be put in jail, perhaps for the rest of their lives,” Trump said jokingly to the racers during the recent White House’s “Grand Prix Showcase.”

Josef Newgarden a two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and back-to-back Indianapolis 500 winner, recently said about the event: This circuit is unlike any other street race we’ve seen. You’ve got a high-speed section down Pennsylvania Avenue that will reward commitment and precision ... . Racing through the heart of American history, with those amazing landmarks lining the course, is going to be incredibly powerful."

Turning the streets of D.C. into a racetrack has required crews to secure more than 220 manhole covers and install roughly 1,800 protective barriers around the circuit.

The National Mall and its surrounding areas have hosted several events this summer celebrating America’s milestone anniversary, including a UFC event on the White House South Lawn, the Great American State Fair, and a world record Fourth of July firework display.

Sunday’s schedule will feature a 90-minute pre-race show beginning at 11:30 a.m., along with military flyovers before drivers take the green flag, which could be waved by the president himself.

The FAA also announced plans to shut down the airspace at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from 10:15 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. that Sunday to allow for the flyovers.

Street closures and parking restrictions are already in effect throughout the area as crews continue building the course, with officials urging the public to use public transportation come race weekend.

Public interest in attending the historic race is high: More than 280,000 people requested admission, but only about 100,000 free general-admission tickets were available. The general request window closed over two months ago.

Multiple hospitality suites are being set up throughout the mall for viewing, including the Champions Club. Tickets for the premium experience of sitting at the finish line will cost around $5,000 a piece.

The race will conclude with the checkered flag waving in front of the U.S. Capitol, marking the finish of the first IndyCar street race ever held at the Nation's Capitol.

More information can be found at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix website.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

“This circuit is unlike any other street race we’ve seen,” said two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and back-to-back Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who had the opportunity to tour the circuit on Monday morning. “You’ve got a high-speed section down Pennsylvania Avenue that will reward commitment and precision, mixed with technical corners around 9th Street that will demand respect. Racing through the heart of American history, with those amazing landmarks lining the course, is going to be incredibly powerful. I can’t wait to be back here to race and celebrate America’s birthday at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.”

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix was formalized through an Executive Order signed earlier this year by President Donald J. Trump entitled “Celebrating American Greatness with American Motor Racing.” The first ever street race around the National Mall enjoys key support from Chief of Protocol of the United States, Ambassador Monica Crowley, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

“The story of America is one of vision, courage, perseverance - and speed,” said Ambassador Monica Crowley, President Trump’s representative for America’s 250th. “What better way to showcase our exceptional American spirit than by hosting the Grand Prix in our Nation’s Capital during our 250th birthday year! Presidents Washington and Jefferson marked notable celebrations with spirited horse races; the Freedom 250 race will bring that historic tradition into the 21st century and renew a tremendous sense of patriotic pride.”

Newgarden, Ambassador Crowley, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were joined by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser along with Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner & CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Ted Leonsis, FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks and Freedom 250 Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker on Monday to unveil the course design.

“Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs! The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will showcase American ingenuity in engineering and technology along the backdrop of our historic capital in a spectacle that will leave the world in awe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “President Trump and our partners at INDYCAR are preparing a historic celebration worthy of America’s 250th anniversary. The design of this unique and competitive track will deliver an exhilarating and safe experience for millions of Americans to enjoy and celebrate.”

"Under President Donald J. Trump, America's 250th will be unlike any moment in our nation's history," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "INDYCAR racing has always captured the American spirit: bold innovation, relentless drive and the determination to lead, and the Department of the Interior is proud to help bring the historic, all-American race to the very streets in Washington D.C. that shaped our great nation. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will mark a milestone lap in American history and stand as a defining moment of the semiquincentennial celebration, bringing to life in our nation's capital the qualities that make America truly exceptional - ambition, speed, resilience and the individual liberty of every American to chart their own path forward."

Buildout of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix circuit will begin later this summer, with the roads near the U.S. Capitol and around the National Mall expected to remain open and accessible throughout the majority of the course creation.

“We are very excited about hosting the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in the Sports Capital,” said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We want people to plan their trips to DC now. Come for the Freedom 250, and then stay to enjoy our monuments and museums, our beautiful parks, world-class restaurants and hotels, and all the culture and entertainment that make us the best city in the world.”

During Monday’s gathering at the foot of the National Mall, officials also revealed the official Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. event logo. The logo design features an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race car positioned in front of the U.S. Capitol dome rendered in a patriotic red, white and blue color palette.

The official Freedom 250 Grand Prix INDYCAR also made its debut on Monday, featuring a custom red, white and blue livery created specifically to honor 250 years of American Independence. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix INDYCAR is an open-wheel, single-seat Dallara chassis identical to those competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The car will be displayed at prominent locations throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region over the next several months, serving as a rolling ambassador for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and building excitement as the nation counts down to the historic INDYCAR race weekend.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is poised to become a defining moment in American sports history and, like all NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, will be broadcast live on FOX to a national television audience. FOX will feature enhanced coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix as one of its marquee events honoring America’s 250th anniversary.

“This is so much more than another sporting event on the calendar,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports CEO & Executive Producer. “It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate the creativity, ingenuity and competitive spirit that helped build America. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, racing through a monument-filled course in the heart of Washington, D.C., will be a centerpiece of the celebrations honoring our nation’s 250th birthday. FOX Sports is incredibly proud to help bring this historic moment to fans across the country.”

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. is also bolstered by support from Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), which will serve as the event’s Official Marketing, Sponsorships and Corporate Hospitality Sales Partner, leveraging its integrated sports, media and venue platform to connect INDYCAR with fans, partners and the local community. MSE owns the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA) and Washington Mystics (WNBA) and the company hosts hundreds of high-profile events across the region each year.

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