The NTT IndyCar Series is heading to Washington, D.C. as part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
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Friday afternoon, the president held a press conference featuring Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske, Bud Denker of the Penske Corporation, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and multiple others. They announced that the open-wheel series will hold a race to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The Freedom 250 will take place near the National Mall while serving as the first-ever motor race held in the Nation's Capital. The current plan is for the event to take place Aug. 21-23. This would place it between events in Markham, Ontario, and the Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin.
"We at DOT were working on this concept," Duffy said. "We didn't know at the same time, Penske was working on the same project too. And so we've come together, and Doug (Burgum) has been a wonderful partner.
"But to think 190 miles an hour down Pennsylvania Avenue. This is going to be wild."
American speed. American power. American GREATNESS. 🇺🇸🏁
President Donald J. Trump just signed an Executive Order launching the FIRST-EVER IndyCar race through the streets of our Nation’s Capital: The Freedom 250 Grand Prix. pic.twitter.com/Q9gYqA00Vo
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 30, 2026
According to Duffy and Denker, the last "race" in Washington, D.C. took place in 1801. It featured horses. This time, fans will be able to watch the top stars in IndyCar battling for position at a much higher rate of speed.
"This is free for the American people to come to your Nation's Capital and see a great road race," Duffy added. "Freedom, America, speed, and road racing. It doesn't get more American than that."
Burgum also confirmed that this race will be free to attend, provided the racing fans have the opportunity to book hotels in the area.
"You talk about the economic impact, by the time all these reporters get done telling the story, there's not going to be a hotel room available in this city on that weekend, because everybody's going to want to be here," Burgum said. "People that maybe wanted to see an IndyCar race their whole life are now going to have an opportunity to come to their Capital, celebrate 250, and see an IndyCar race for free.
"And they're going to be able to see it on the National Mall and wherever you put down your lawn chair and watch this race for free. You're gonna be staring at the Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial. And I'm sure there's going to be fireworks this weekend too."
The announcement and the signing of the executive order are both complete. More work remains to be done.
The parties involved have a few months to design a course, find funding, and get it put together for a street race. This is a monumental task, especially considering that the UFC will hold an event at the White House two months prior.
The IndyCar Series will work with the Interior and Transportation departments, as well as Mayor Muriel Bowser, to bring this event to life.
