Trump waves green flag to start IndyCar race through Washington streets
The president took a ceremonial lap of the track before the race, which is the culmination of a summer of events to mark the country's 250th birthday.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump joined hundreds of spectators to witness an IndyCar race winding through the streets of Washington D.C., marking the climax of summer events to commemorate the country's 250th birthday. Driver Kyle Kirkwood claimed victory, marking his seventh career win in the IndyCar series. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined the festivities by taking a ceremonial lap around the 1.7-mile track in their presidential limousine, The Beast.
The race, known as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, was the first time professional road racing had taken place in the capital. Despite having the lowest speed limit in the United States of 55mph (89kmh), the race allowed some of the world's fastest drivers to reach speeds of up to 190mph (306kmh).
The event featured 25 professional drivers competing over 147 laps, covering a total distance of 250 miles - a tribute to the nation's anniversary. The race course passed by iconic landmarks such as the Washington Monument and National Mall, concluding with a finish line featuring the US Capitol building.
Similar to Formula 1, IndyCar is a road race featuring open-wheel, single-seater cars. However, unlike F1, where teams design and build their own cars, the engines in IndyCars are exclusively from Chevrolet or Honda. Organizers estimated that about 140,000 people were expected to attend, with many free general admission tickets given out through a lottery. Premium packages sold for $5,000 for a pair of passes.
The city faced significant logistical and security challenges to host the event, including road closures, manhole bolt downs, and road resurfacing. The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport experienced a three-hour airspace closure to accommodate the US military flyover. The National Gallery of Art underwent vibration tests to ensure its priceless collection could withstand the powerful rumble of the engines.
Despite minor concerns, the atmosphere during the race appeared lively, with many spectators dressed in Uncle Sam hats and one woman even dressed as the Statue of Liberty. American driver Josef Newgarden expressed the significance of racing through the capital, calling it a unique and special experience celebrating the country's 250th anniversary.
The event had previously hosted an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn and a fireworks show on July 4th.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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