The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., will take place this weekend, marking the first major auto race in the U.S. capital in more than 24 years. The event, held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, features 25 IndyCar drivers competing on a 1.7-mile temporary street circuit located around the National Mall. Organizers expect approximately 140,000 attendees per day for the two-day event.
The race was established following a January executive order signed by President Trump, which directed the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Interior to designate a route and secure necessary permits. Plans for the race were initially stalled in Congress, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested a route that avoided congressional jurisdiction. Bud Denker, president of Penske Corp. and chairman of the grand prix, stated the race was developed over the course of a year through a partnership between IndyCar owner Penske Entertainment and Fox Sports.
The 147-lap race will begin Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, following practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday. The track starts west of the U.S. Capitol on Third Street Northwest, traveling along Pennsylvania Avenue, Ninth Street Northwest, Constitution Avenue, and Independence Avenue Southwest. The course required the installation of 1,800 concrete barriers, each weighing 10,000 pounds, and the securing of more than 220 manhole covers to withstand speeds approaching 180 mph.
The scale of the project involves a private investment from Penske Corp. that Denker said "far exceeds" a typical $21 million race budget. While general admission tickets were distributed for free until June, the only remaining entry options are hospitality packages that cost upwards of $3,500 for a pair of Saturday passes. Residents and visitors will notice physical barriers and road closures that have been in place for several weeks; these disruptions are scheduled to continue past the event date, with some equipment removal lasting through Sept. 15.
The race sets a precedent for using executive authority to host large-scale commercial sporting events on the National Mall. While Denker described the grand prix as a "one-time-only" event for the nation's 250th birthday, both President Trump and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser have expressed interest in holding future races in the city. Any profits generated from the event are slated for donation to charities selected by Mayor Bowser. Following the race conclusion on Sunday afternoon, crews will begin dismantling the track infrastructure to reopen public thoroughfares by mid-September.