Washington IndyCar race touted by Trump draws Boeing, Starlink, Delta as new sponsors
WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Several major companies will be sponsoring an IndyCar race for the first time when the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, touted by President Donald Trump, takes place around Washington, D. New backers include Boeing, SpaceX's Starlink and Delta Air Lines, Bud Denker, the chair of the 250-mile (402-km) race and president of Penske Corp, said at a press conference on Thursday.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race touted by President Donald Trump, will take place around Washington, D.C. on Sunday, marking its inaugural sponsorship by several major companies. Boeing, SpaceX's Starlink, and Delta Air Lines are among the new backers, according to Bud Denker, chair of the 250-mile race and president of Penske Corp. The event will conclude a series of celebrations commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
Trump, who signed the executive order initiating the race in January, will wave the green flag at the start and take a lap in the presidential limousine. He is expected to invite executives to watch the race in a special suite. The race will involve speeds of 170 miles per hour on historic Pennsylvania Avenue, near the National Archives, and pass by cultural institutions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian has confirmed his attendance. Other sponsors include General Motors, Honda, United Airlines, Amazon's AWS unit, Shell, Gulfstream, Altria, Verizon, and Washington Gas. The White House has directed inquiries about Trump's plans to Penske. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser anticipates 140,000 attendees each day, with significant portions of downtown closed to traffic.
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