Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating that IndyCar races be held on the streets of Washington, D.C., in August as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The event will be called the "Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC" and will be the first time an IndyCar race takes place on public streets in the U.S. capital.
According to Thai News Agency, the race will occur on or within the grounds of the National Mall, allowing the open-wheel race cars to pass by various Washington D.C. monuments and museums. Admission to the event will be free for all attendees. Speaking in the Oval Office before the signing ceremony, President Trump described the event as a celebration of the nation's greatness through American motorsports. He expressed his excitement for the event, scheduled from August 21st to 23rd, and shared his personal fondness for motorsports.
The presidential order is unusual, combining motorsports with a celebration of patriotic spirit as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026. In addition, President Trump plans to host a mixed martial arts event at the White House in July and promote the FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The signing ceremony saw the attendance of Roger Penske, founder and CEO of Penske Corp., the owner of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, along with executives from Fox Sports, the broadcasting partner. Penske mentioned that the initiative would benefit the local economy, although further details were not disclosed.
U.S. officials noted that Washington, D.C., last hosted a public street race in 1801, a horse race during Thomas Jefferson's presidency. However, budgetary or logistical details for organizing a race in the city's traffic-congested streets have not been disclosed. Reports indicate that Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser supports the project, although she did not attend the official announcement.
Currently, IndyCar races are held on streets in cities like Long Beach, California, and St. Petersburg, Florida, but organizing a race under the complex safety and traffic conditions of a federal district is unprecedented.