– The Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington D.C. is much more than just an ordinary race on the IndyCar series calendar. The event spectacle as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the USA is deliberately used by US President Donald Trump as a grand stage.
Read more Despite updates from McLaren and Ferrari: Kimi Antonelli fastest in Zandvoort
Trump, who personally initiated the race in January this year by decree, takes the main role in the pre-program on race Sunday itself.
Before the start of the 147-lap race, the president will do a lap of honor on the 2.736-kilometer city circuit. For this, he does not use an ordinary safety car, but his armored presidential limousine, better known as “The Beast”.
Accompanied by the full motorized escort and in the presence of First Lady Melania Trump, the convoy drives along the course, which passes well-known landmarks such as the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, the National Air and Space Museum, and directly past the Capitol.
Afterwards, Trump himself will wave the green flag to send the field of 25 IndyCar cars on their way. The checkered flag at the end of the race is also in the hands of his administration: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy takes over the task of the flagpole at the end of the race.
Read more Steiner: Joint F1 and MotoGP event conceivable in five years
This is not the first time that the US president has used major motorsport events for his appearances. Already at the Daytona 500 of the NASCAR series in 2020 and 2025, he did a lap of honor in “The Beast”. He also attended the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami in 2024.
The scale of the major event in the capital is also evident off the racetrack. The Federal Aviation Administration closes the airspace over the nearby Reagan National Airport for the race on Sunday between 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. local time. (All info about the IndyCar race in Washington D.C.)
The race start is at 1:13 p.m. local time. As part of the supporting program, instead of the Indy-NXT series, the historic IROC series will compete with two 20-minute runs.
Read more Of all places, at the home race in Monza: engine penalty for Antonelli!
