UFC 이어 백악관 인근서 시속 320㎞ 레이싱…이해충돌·문화재 훼손 논란

The USA's capital hosted a 250-year anniversary Indica auto racing event on the 22nd. The event, known as the "Freedom 250 Grand Prix," opened in Washington D.C.'s National Mall area. Racers conducted practice runs throughout the day, with the main race set to take place the following afternoon. Twenty-five Indica cars raced at a speed of 320 km/h, starting from a reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial, and completing 147 laps along a 2.7 km course that included the White House, the National Museum of American Art, the National Archives, and the National Air and Space Museum. The race covered 400 km (250 miles) in total.

The event was organized in response to a presidential directive from former President Trump in January. Trump planned to attend the event, arriving in a special limousine for the "honored drive" and waving a checkered flag to signal the end of the race. The total cost of the event, estimated at $35 million, was borne by the organizers. Free admission tickets for 14,000 people and $5500 (approximately $76,000) "Champions Club" tickets were sold out.

To prepare the road for the event, 220 manhole covers were welded flat and 50 low manhole covers were covered with epoxy to prevent vehicles from hitting them. The road was also cleared of traffic lights. A military aircraft display was planned, and airport operations at Ronald Reagan National Airport were halted for three hours before the race. Federal agencies such as the Secret Service and the FBI, as well as all Washington D.C. police officers, were on standby for emergency duty.

The event drew support from dozens of major corporations, including Boeing, SpaceX, Shell, and Amazon. Criticism arose regarding the potential conflict of interest, as the Trump administration received donations from these companies. Senator Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) criticized Trump for wasting time seeking donations from these companies instead of helping working Americans.

The White House was reinforced to protect priceless artifacts, and concerns were raised that the vibrations from the cars could damage these valuable items. The Living New Deal, a citizens' group dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, pointed out the potential damage to historic murals in the Cochen Federal Building. The group argued that such a large event should not be held in a region rich with cultural heritage.