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After a day of practice and qualifying around the National Mall, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix reaches its marquee race on Sunday—the first IndyCar event ever staged in the nation's capital.
Residents have voiced excitement at seeing the race come to the capital, with some noting that this is the first time such an event has been held there and possibly the last. Organizers say it is a one-off, tied to the country's 250th anniversary.
Three Smithsonian buildings—the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Museum of Natural History—are admitting visitors only with a ticket for that day's racing.
Organisers are promising a patriotic spectacle, with cars completing 147 laps of a 1.7-mile route in the shadow of the Capitol building, alongside flyovers and other fanfare. At a preview event in July, President Trump said drivers may reach speeds of 190 miles per hour down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, took pole position on Aug. 22, his seventh NTT P1 Award of the season.
The main race is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. GMT) on Sunday and will be broadcast live nationally on FOX, with additional radio coverage from the INDYCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM.
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