IndyCar drivers will race through the heart of Washington, D.C. this weekend for the first time in the sport’s history, as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix turns the National Mall into a temporary racetrack as part of celebrations marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Race car drivers are set to compete in the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. this weekend, in what organisers are billing as the first-ever motor race held on the National Mall and the streets of the capital. The event forms part of the wider celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and will see drivers race past some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks over a specially built 1.7-mile street circuit.
A landmark-lined circuit
The temporary track features seven turns and includes a 0.4-mile high-speed stretch along Pennsylvania Avenue. Drivers will race past the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum during the course of the event.
The race distance has since been increased from the originally planned 125 laps to 147 laps, bringing the total distance to approximately 250 miles. On parts of the circuit, drivers are expected to reach speeds of up to 170mph.
Weekend schedule
The event runs across Saturday, 22 August, and Sunday, 23 August, with practice sessions and qualifying taking place on Saturday. The main Freedom 250 Grand Prix race is scheduled for Sunday, with the green flag expected shortly after 1pm Eastern Time. The weekend will also see the return of the International Race of Champions, in which drivers from different motorsport disciplines compete against one another in identical cars.
Drivers taking on an unfamiliar track
Championship leader Alex Palou is among the field of drivers competing in Washington this weekend, alongside Kyle Kirkwood, Pato O’Ward, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson. Because no IndyCar driver has previously raced on the circuit, teams have been heavily reliant on simulator work and a limited number of practice sessions to prepare.
The race also carries particular significance for Scott Dixon, who enters the weekend in what has been described as his 25th and final season with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Early impressions from practice
Kyle Kirkwood topped the timesheets during the opening practice session. Drivers have reportedly flagged the circuit’s bumpy surface, along with brick crosswalks and welded manhole covers, as potential hazards over the course of the race.
Pato O’Ward described the event as a potential “street fight,” while also pointing to the physical challenge posed by Washington’s heat and humidity. With the race extended to 147 laps, teams are expected to face difficult strategic decisions around fuel usage, tyre wear and overall reliability throughout the event.
Crowds and road closures across the capital
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has said the city expects around 140,000 attendees per day over the course of the event. Large sections of downtown Washington have been closed or restricted to traffic as part of preparations for the race weekend. General admission to the event is free, though spectators are required to obtain tickets in advance.
Political backing and commercial sponsors
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix was created following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January 2026. Trump is expected to wave the green flag to start the race and take part in a ceremonial lap around the circuit.
The event has attracted sponsorship and support from a number of major companies, including Boeing, Starlink, Delta Air Lines, General Motors, Honda, United Airlines, Amazon Web Services, Shell and Verizon.
At present, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix is planned as a one-off event, with no confirmation yet that IndyCar will return to race in Washington in future seasons.
