The NTT IndyCar Series will travel to Washington, D.C. this August, following the announcement of the Freedom 250 street race.
President Donald J. Trump formalized the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. by the signing of an executive order.
This directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation to work with Mayor Muriel Bowser to create a brand-new street course, centered around the National Mall.
Due to take place across the weekend of 21-23 August 2026, the Freedom 250 will form part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
IndyCar has already confirmed that the Freedom 250 will be free for spectators to attend. Fox Sports will be broadcasting the race live.
‘A quintessentially American sport’
As part of the executive order, President Trump said: “For over one hundred years, American IndyCar racing has set the pace for motorsports.
“With speeds topping over 200 miles per hour, the cars and drivers inspire awe and respect in all who watch this quintessentially American sport.”
Penske Entertainment will be responsible for managing the race, as it does for a number of events across the IndyCar season.
“President Trump has bestowed an incredible distinction upon our sport, and we’re grateful for his trust and support as IndyCar prepares to honor our country with a tremendous racing spectacle,” said IndyCar series owner Roger Penske.
The announcement swells the 2026 IndyCar season to 18 races, with the Freedom 250 slotting into the calendar between Markham in Canada and the Milwaukee Mile events.
Adding a new race to the calendar at such short notice will be a logistical struggle for IndyCar, and the capital city itself. An August date means fans and drivers will likely also face temperatures between 90-100 deg F, combined with 70 percent humidity.
Has Washington, D.C. hosted motorsport before?
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. will be the first official motor race to take place on the National Mall. However the nation’s capital has hosted other automotive events.
In 2002, the Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. used a 1.66-mile temporary circuit laid out around the RFK Memorial Stadium parking lot. Held as part of the American Le Mans Series, the race was held just once, despite a 10-year contract.
Between 2014 and 2016, the Red Bull Global RallyCross Championship also hosted a round in the grounds of RFK Stadium.
Red Bull returned to D.C. in 2024, giving a high-speed Formula 1 demonstration run ahead of that year’s Miami Grand Prix.
This year’s NTT IndyCar Series starts with the opening race of the season, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on 1 March 2026.
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