Trump, thousands of fans attend IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix: Highlights
The heart of the nation's capital was packed with thousands of fans as Kyle Kirkwood won Freedom 250 Grand Prix, marking a historic moment in IndyCar history.
The race began shortly after 1 p.m. ET on the National Mall, following a course that takes seven turns between the U.S. Capitol and around Smithsonian museums and the National Archives. Racers drove 147 laps around the 1.7-mile course for a total of 250 miles before spectators, including President Donald Trump.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump took a ride around the track in the presidential limousine ahead of the competition, and the president waved the green flag to kick off the laps.
The two-day event began Saturday with practice and qualifying races and two International Race of Champions races. Twenty-five drivers competed Sunday.
It's the latest high-profile sporting event spearheaded by Trump as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. In June, the White House held a UFC mixed martial arts competition.
Lundgaard talks Freedom 250 Grand Prix
N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Michelle Del Rey
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix was a long, hard race for Christian Lundgaard, the driver told USA TODAY. Lundgaard, who finished just behind winner Kyle Kirkwood, said the layout "wasn't really the most entertaining" and the "bumpy street course doesn't make it much easier physically," but the race was still an enjoyable one.
"Every time you’re driving past the main straight the Capitol is on your right," he said. "It’s the best scene in the house.”
Crowd cheers as Kyle Kirkwood wins Grand Prix
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Scott Horner and Zion Brown
Spectators burst into applause and cheers as Kyle Kirkwood won the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington, DC, earning his second IndyCar Series victory of the season. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy waved the checkered flag signaling Kirkwood's victory.
"You can't even put it into words. This is incredible," Kirkwood told Fox News after jumping out of his vehicle and celebrating with his crew. "I'm almost in tears here."
Christian Lundgaard and Kirkwood's teammate Will Power complete the podium.
Trump family, allies attend Grand Prix
N'dea Yancey-Bragg
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were among the Trump family members spotted at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
Eric and Lara Trump as well as some of the president’s grandchildren were also in attendance, CNN reported. Several members of Trump's Cabinet, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, were also at the event, according to CNN.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, along with Lt. General Lawrence G. Ferguson, delivered the opening line "gentlemen, start your engines!"
'This is America'
Michelle Del Rey
As the Freedom 250 Grand Prix entered its final 20 minutes, Tina Boykin, of Foxtown, Ohio, was overcome with emotion.
She traveled to Washington specifically for the sporting event.
“This is America,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. A huge IndyCar fan, she said it was special to sit in the nation’s capital next to people from around the globe and witness the event.
“I feel safe, I have not a worry in the world…it just doesn’t get any better than this. How you can’t love this I don’t know,” she said.
Fans beat the heat at Grand Prix cooling tent
Michelle Del Rey
Fans utilized the cooling stations at the Freedom 250 race to beat the heat as temperatures shot up in Washington.
Brian Meyers Jr, 37, from York, Pennsylvania, had been standing outside from 10 a.m. until roughly 3 p.m. before deciding to step into one of the cooling tents.
As an Indy car fan, he said the Grand Prix has been a good experience and hopes Scott Dickson wins the race.
Fan reacts to Grand Prix crash
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Michelle Del Rey and Zion Brown
The first wreck of IndyCar's Freedom 250 Grand Prix saw championship contender David Malukas slam into the outside wall of Turn 7 of the new Washington street course − and Sting Ray Robb ran right into him. As the action resumed, a crash at the end of lap 43 involving Marcus Armstrong and Christian Rasmussen took out Rinus VeeKay.
Spectator Andy Statler, 38, said he was glad no one was hurt.
“I was just surprised that he got turned all the way around,” Statler said of the initial collision, later adding, “it was just enough contact where he spun out a little bit.”
First lady Melania Trump talks love of racing
N'dea Yancey-Bragg
After meeting with drivers and taking a lap around the track, first lady Melania Trump told Fox Sports it’s been “exciting” to watch Washington, DC transform into a race course ahead of the Grand Prix. Trump told the outlet she was introduced to the sport of racing by her father, who owned "incredible" cars by Maserati, Mercedes Benz and more.
“He introduced me to design of cars and the mechanics and also the speed," Trump said. "And I loved it, every minute of it."
USA TODAY Sports brings lap-by-lap updates
Marina Pitofsky
Looking for the latest on the racers' standing in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix? USA TODAY Sports is tracking lap-by-lap updates as the competition heats up.
Trumps and 'the Beast' take a lap around track
Emily R. Condon and Michelle Del Rey
Crowds cheered as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took a lap around the track ahead of the final races in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in "the Beast," the nickname for the heavily armored presidential limousine.
The Trumps rode in the presidential vehicle, as Air Force One flew over the course. They took a spin around the 1.7 mile track, though at slower speeds than the racers.
"We're going to make a little circle in a nice, secure car, slightly slower than the ones we're going to witness, but we're going to have fun," President Trump said on Fox Sports' broadcast. He also waved the official green flag to start the highly anticipated competition.
Grand Prix has 'brought a lot of energy to the city,' fan says
N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Michelle Del Rey
While some DC residents have expressed frustration with disruptions caused by the Grand Prix, racing fan Philipe Rouchard, 43, said he’s excited to have such a unique event in the city.
Rouchard, who has lived in Washington for 10 years, said his wife has had to work from home for the week as preparations for the event began, but otherwise the impacts have been minimal.
“It’s brought a lot of energy to the city," he said. "It’s always cool to host world class sporting events."
Rouchard said he’s not rooting for any driver in particular, but suspects reigning IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou will likely win. The Rochester, New York, native said he’s looking forward to seeing “good, fast racing” and sharing the experience with his son.
“Seeing the excitement on his face means the world to me,” he said.
Trump arrives at Freedom 250 Grand Prix
N'dea Yancey-Bragg
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have arrived at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. Trump could be seen greeting Penske Corporation Chair Roger Penske and drivers Scott Dixon and Alex Palou ahead of the historic event.
The president is expected to take a lap around the race route in "the Beast," the heavily armored presidential limousine, and wave the green flag to kick off the race.
What's it like at the DC race? Thousands of fans gather on National Mall
Michelle Del Rey
Tens of thousands of IndyCar fans were on the National Mall on Sunday awaiting the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. By noon, military bands and drivers had taken laps around the track, much to the delight of attendees.
Military flyovers also began around 10 a.m. and included a B-2 bomber, sending a roar radiating over the nation's capital.
Fans are now waiting for President Donald Trump’s motorcade, which is also set to go around the track ahead of the race.
NASA astronaut to lead drivers to starting line
Michelle Del Rey
Reid Wiseman, commander of NASA's April 2026 Artemis II mission, is set to ride in the pace car that will lead the field to the starting line on Sunday. Wiseman told USA TODAY he's excited to see the city from the cockpit of a two-seat Indy car.
Though he's traveled at astronomical speeds, he said the speed, the cornering and braking in a race car are unlike anything he's experienced before.
"I love being immersed in any foreign environment," said Wiseman, adding that he's thrilled "to feel what the drivers feel, to get into the firesuit that they wear, to feel what the cockpit of that race car feels like."
Where will the 2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix race take place in Washington, DC?
Stephen J. Beard and Carlie Procell
The race will consist of 147 laps around a course at the east end of the National Mall. A single lap of the course is 1.7 miles, and 147 laps equals 250 miles.
The start and finish line of the course is directly west of the U.S. Capitol Building, and the seven-turn lap takes drivers past the National Archives, the Washington Monument, the National Gallery of Art and these three Smithsonian museums:
- The National Museum of Natural History
- The National Air & Space Museum
- The National Museum of the American Indian
Military flyovers ahead of Freedom 250 Grand Prix
N'dea Yancey-Bragg
Aircraft from multiple branches of the U.S. military have been spotted soaring over the nation's capital ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, photosand videofrom the scene show.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airportadvised passengers the surrounding airspace would be closed for three hours on Aug. 23 until 1:15 p.m. due to the planned flyovers.
Who is racing in the IndyCar Freedom 250?
Scott Horner and Zion Brown
Here's the starting lineup for the IndyCar Freedom 250:
- Row 1
- 1, Alex Palou
- 2, Kyle Kirkwood
- Row 2
- Row 3
- Row 4
- 7, Pato O'Ward
- 8, Dennis Hauger
- Row 5
- Row 6
- 11, Caio Collet
- 12, Will Power
- Row 7
- 13, Scott Dixon
- 14, Josef Newgarden
- Row 8
- 15, Alexander Rossi
- 16, Louis Foster
- Row 9
- 17, Rinus VeeKay
- 18, Nolan Siegel
- Row 10
- 19, Romain Grosjean
- 20, Graham Rahal
- Row 11
- 21, Marcus Ericsson
- 22, Sting Ray Robb
- Row 12
- 23, Kyffin Simpson
- 24, Mick Schumacher
- Row 13
- 25, Santino Ferrucci
Spectators talk Freedom 250 Grand Prix with USA TODAY
Michelle Del Rey