Freedom 250 Grand Prix Live: DC gears up for Trump’s IndyCar spectacle as CEOs and lawmakers descend for race

Drivers prepare to race through the Capitol as IndyCar takes over DCPresident Donald Trump’s historic IndyCar race through Washington, D.C. is set to take place Sunday as part of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The first-of-its-kind event, dubbed the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, was organized by Freedom 250, the Trump-backed group established to help celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial. Drivers participating in the IndyCar race will dash along Pennsylvania Avenue, loop around the National Archives and speed past several of the nation’s storied institutions, including the Capitol and the Washington Monument.There are 25 drivers expected to take part in the 147-lap circuit — which has a total race distance of about 250 miles. Drivers could reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour during the event.Some of the top Indy drivers, including series champion Alex Palou and Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, are expected to participate. The president is expected to kick off the race by waving a green flag at 1:10 p.m. He will also take a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast.”The race caps off America’s 250 celebrations marking the nation’s semiquincentennial. Celebrations began earlier this summer with a UFC cage match at the White House and also included the Great American State Fair.Where will the race take place? The course layout for the Freedom 250 IndyCar runs through the heart of Washington, D.C., and will take drivers past several historic institutions. The longest straight on the course will run up Pennsylvania Avenue, then take drivers past the National Gallery of Art, which has added reinforcements to protect its work from the vibrations caused by the race. Drivers will also pass the Canadian Embassy, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Archives, the National Mall as well as the National Air and Space Museum. During the race, drivers will loop around the course 147 times, totaling in about 250 miles. (Executive Office of the Mayor )Isabel Keane23 August 2026 14:37Watch: IndyCar takes to DC streets for Freedom 250 Grand Prix, thrilling fansIndyCar takes to DC streets for Freedom 250 Grand Prix, thrilling fansAriana Baio23 August 2026 13:00DC airport will pause flights todayThe Federal Aviation Administration is pausing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for several hours today as the nation’s capital celebrates the Freedom 250 Grand Prix with flyovers and other events. Between at least 10:15 a.m. ET and 1:15 p.m. ET, flights will be paused. That is subject to change.The FAA is asking travelers to check their flight status with their airlines. Ariana Baio23 August 2026 12:00‘It’s stuff that you dream of’: IndyCar drivers hail historic DC raceEven for experienced IndyCar drivers, competing on a circuit set against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol proves remarkable."We get to race at a lot of cool cities, but this one is by far the best that we've ever had, and I can say that very truthfully," Kyle Kirkwood noted on Friday. "Going by the Capitol building, the views here, all the architecture of all the buildings around here, all the museums, it's stuff that you dream of."It's a serious honor and privilege,” Kirkwood said.“As a boy from the Netherlands that just got his green card, it is really cool,” said Rinus VeeKay, who has six top-10 finishes this season. “We didn't get too much U.S. history in school ... but learning so much about it here, seeing all the monuments and museums and just how every building kind of has a special purpose here around the city, is very cool. Getting to see the White House, this is stuff you see in movies.”Noah Trister23 August 2026 11:00In Photos: The Qualifying roundRace car driver Alex Palou is seen before a qualifying race (AP)Former race car driver and now race car owner, Mario Andretti (AP)Will Power, driver of the #26 TWG AI Andretti Global Honda pulls in for a pit stop (Getty)Ariana Baio23 August 2026 09:00Watch: Heavy security in place for IndyCar race in D.C.Heavy security in place for IndyCar race in D.C.Ariana Baio23 August 2026 07:30McLaren Racing CEO hopes Freedom 250 event will be commercial successZak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, said he hopes the Freedom 250 Grand Prix delivers lasting commercial success to IndyCar. “This is, I mean, it's a massive event for IndyCar commercially,” Brown told FOX Sports, according to Motorsport“I think this is going to bring a lot of awareness to IndyCar for new fans. And I think when they tune in, they're going to love it. The amount of executives we have here is phenomenal, so I'm already hoping there's a year two, but I guess let's get through year one first.”Ariana Baio23 August 2026 06:00'Very bumpy': Driver explains what it's like on the DC circuitAlex Palou, one of the drivers competing in the Freedom 250 IndyCar qualifiers, described the D.C. track as “super fun” but “very bumpy.”“It’s very bumpy. There’s some big bumps right here and there but super fun,” Palou told FOX Saturday after several practice rounds.Palou said the largest bumps were headed on turn two and turn six. Louis Foster, another driver, lost control of his car briefly after hitting a bump on turn six. His car hit one of the walls, damaging the front of the car.Alex Palou, pictured riding a scooter at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix track, described the circuit as ‘very bumpy’ (AP)Ariana Baio23 August 2026 04:30Watch: Hot laps around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix courseHot laps around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix courseAriana Baio23 August 2026 03:00Former Biden staffer cheers for IndyCar race Ron Klain, former President Joe Biden’s chief of staff, praised the IndyCar race taking place in the nation’s capital this weekend, telling Politico’s “Playbook” he was “glad” to see the race.“It's an amazing sport because it combines the heroism, courage and skill of the drivers, and then the amazing technological achievements of the cars,” Klain, a massive fan of racing, told Politico. But when asked about Trump’s efforts to get the race in D.C., Klain praised Penske – the company leading the sponsorships of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. “Not only the leading sponsor of the sport and leading advocate of the sport, but now the custodian of the sport’s greatest site, the international Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Klain said.Ariana Baio23 August 2026 02:00