Trump caps summer of US 250th birthday at IndyCar race through Washington

President Donald Trump concluded the US 250th birthday celebrations with a unique IndyCar race through Washington, featuring drivers speeding past the capital's iconic landmarks. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix took place on Sunday (Aug 23), drawing an estimated 200,000 spectators and offering free entry. Trump's motorcade honored the race course briefly before the green flag was raised, officially starting the 402-kilometer trek along the National Mall, past the US Capitol, and along historic Pennsylvania Avenue.

The city's air traffic control paused for three hours to accommodate military flyovers, and the Pentagon closed nearby roads for security reasons. Despite criticism over the track's original location near the Capitol, the event proceeded without major disruptions, with drivers reaching speeds of up to 298 km per hour on the Pennsylvania Avenue straightaway.

Major sponsors, including Boeing, SpaceX, and Delta Air Lines, supported the race for the first time.