Drivers vying for the top spots in the Freedom 250 IndyCar lineup participated in practice rounds and the qualifiers Saturday ahead of the high-speed Grand Prix taking place Sunday.
Before the qualifying round Saturday afternoon, drivers did practice laps around the 1.7-mile circuit that passes by the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the National Gallery of Art.
FBI Director Kash Patel said he met with the Washington Field Office’s command post to go over security measures in preparation for the more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend the event in the nation’s capital.
The main event is taking place Sunday, when 25 drivers will complete 147 laps of the circuit with a total race distance of roughly 250 miles. Drivers could reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
President Donald Trump is expected to kick off the race by waving a green flag. He will also take a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast.”
The race is part of this summer’s America 250 celebrations marking the country’s semiquincentennial, which have also included the Great American State Fair and the UFC cage match at the White House.
Key Points
- Freedom 250 Grand Prix track map
- How to watch the race
- America 250 Grand Prix kicks off today in Washington
- What is the difference between IndyCar and F1?
In Photos: The Qualifying round
09:00 , Ariana Baio
Watch: Heavy security in place for IndyCar race in D.C.
07:30 , Ariana BaioMcLaren Racing CEO hopes Freedom 250 event will be commercial success
06:00 , Ariana BaioZak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, said he hopes the Freedom 250 Grand Prix delivers lasting commercial success to IndyCar.
“This is, I mean, it's a massive event for IndyCar commercially,” Brown told FOX Sports, according to Motorsport
“I think this is going to bring a lot of awareness to IndyCar for new fans. And I think when they tune in, they're going to love it. The amount of executives we have here is phenomenal, so I'm already hoping there's a year two, but I guess let's get through year one first.”
'Very bumpy': Driver explains what it's like on the DC circuit
04:30 , Ariana BaioAlex Palou, one of the drivers competing in the Freedom 250 IndyCar qualifiers, described the D.C. track as “super fun” but “very bumpy.”
“It’s very bumpy. There’s some big bumps right here and there but super fun,” Palou told FOX Saturday after several practice rounds.
Palou said the largest bumps were headed on turn two and turn six.
Louis Foster, another driver, lost control of his car briefly after hitting a bump on turn six. His car hit one of the walls, damaging the front of the car.
Watch: Hot laps around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix course
03:00 , Ariana BaioFormer Biden staffer cheers for IndyCar race
02:00 , Ariana BaioRon Klain, former President Joe Biden’s chief of staff, praised the IndyCar race taking place in the nation’s capital this weekend, telling Politico’s “Playbook” he was “glad” to see the race.
“It's an amazing sport because it combines the heroism, courage and skill of the drivers, and then the amazing technological achievements of the cars,” Klain, a massive fan of racing, told Politico.
But when asked about Trump’s efforts to get the race in D.C., Klain praised Penske – the company leading the sponsorships of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
“Not only the leading sponsor of the sport and leading advocate of the sport, but now the custodian of the sport’s greatest site, the international Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Klain said.
In photos: Spectators watch practice rounds of Freedom 250 Grand Prix
01:00 , Ariana Baio
Grand Prix causes inconveniences in downtown DC
00:30 , Ariana BaioBusiness was not as usual in downtown Washington, D.C., Saturday as drivers participating in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix took practice laps around the circuit, the New York Times reported.
Road closures have caused heavy traffic in the nation’s capital. On X, some commuters complained about the detours backing up cars for miles. One man described the scene as “a zoo” and said he couldn’t drive more than a block within 10 minutes.
As drivers zipped around the circuit, doing practice rounds, the sound of the loud engines made it difficult to hear on-air reporters. NPR Correspondent Ava Berger wrote on an X post, “I can confirm: it’s loud.”
The National Gallery of Art, one of the sights that drivers will pass by on the circuit, conducted vibration studies and put up protective panels to reduce the exposure to outdoor sculptures, the New York Times said.
Airlines have had to reroute flights for the event. At least one school within the exclusion zone was forced to go fully remote as a result of the event.
Here's the full starting line up for Sunday's race
23:32 , Rhian LubinFull Freedom 250 Grand Prix starting lineup:
Starting position
Driver
1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
2. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda
3. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
4. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
5. Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
6. David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
7. Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
8. Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
9. Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
10. Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
11. Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
12. Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
13. Will Power, Andretti Global Honda
14. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
15. Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global Honda
16. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet
17. Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
18. Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
19. Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
20. Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
21. Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
22. Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
23. Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
24. Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
25. Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Alex Palou wins pole position for Sunday's race
23:26 , Rhian LubinAlex Palou has won the pole position for Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.
The founding pole sitter 🥇
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 22, 2026
Alex Palou takes the NTT P1 Award in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix! pic.twitter.com/9TLEh1BVTz
Qualifiers: Round 2 results
23:00 , Ariana Baio1. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda
2. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
3. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
4. Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
5. David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
6. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Qualifiers: Round 1, Group 2 results
22:45 , Ariana Baio1. David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
2. Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
3. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
4. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
5. Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
6. Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Qualifiers: Round 1, Group 1 results
22:30 , Ariana Baio1. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda
2. Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
3. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
4. Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
5. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
6. Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
FBI director meets with DC field office ahead of Grand Prix
22:00 , Ariana BaioFBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday he met with the command post out of the Washington Field Office ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and touted safety measures put into place.
“FBI has a huge presence here to keep this event safe - nearly 400 personnel dedicated between Headquarters and President Trump’s DC ‘Safe and Beautiful Task Force’ to manage the security lift,” Patel wrote on X.
Among those helping keep the event safe are the Critical Incident Response team, multiple intelligence components and the Command Post operators. Patel said SWAT was on standby as well.
Stopping by FBI’s Command Post out of our Washington Field Office - as we cap off America 250 with another historic event here in DC, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, expected to draw over 100,000 spectators daily from across the country and around the world.@FBI has a huge presence… pic.twitter.com/FjxyUm437y
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) August 22, 2026
Qualifying round to begin soon
21:55 , Ariana BaioDrivers are getting ready to compete in the qualifying round of the Freedom 250 IndyCar series to determine the order for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.
Drivers will have six minutes to post the fastest lap time that they can. The driver with the fastest time will secure a position closer to the front for Sunday’s race.
The qualifying round is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET.
DC manhole covers have been 'welded down' to keep spectators safe - Sec Burgum
21:30 , Rhian LubinSecretary of Interior Doug Burgum says that manhole covers are being “welded down” in Washington, D.C. to ensure spectators and drivers are kept safe during Sunday’s race.
Burgum says that the IndyCar Series team and Freedom 250 have “taken every precaution” to keep people safe, including “making sure they’re welding the manhole covers down so they don’t get sucked up like a vacuum when these cars come flying over the top of them, he told NewsMax.
Burgum says that manhole covers are being "welded down" in DC to keep people safe during tomorrow's IndyCar race pic.twitter.com/b7mJ8NkflJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 22, 2026
How the National Gallery is protecting priceless artworks ahead of the race
21:00 , Rhian LubinThe National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. has taken steps to protect artwork from “extensive vibrations” ahead of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
NASCAR and IndyCar racing legends will reach speeds of up to 185 mph during the race in the heart of the nation’s capital, in and around museums and government buildings, including the famed art gallery.
The National Gallery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits in the middle of the 1.7-mile-long racecourse, and the institution is not taking any chances when it comes to looking after the tens of thousands of valuable artworks it houses, The Washington Post reported.
Read on...
DC gallery moves to protect artwork from Freedom 250 Grand Prix
Freedom 250 Grand Prix track map
20:30 , Rhian LubinThe route, a 1.7 mile loop, will take drivers past the Capitol, Washington Monument and National Archives, according to a map provided by the event’s organizers.
A total of 147 laps will be completed, making for a total distance of about 250 miles. Seven turns are included in the route.
Take a look below.
In pictures: Crowds spectate IndyCar drivers warming up in DC
20:00 , Rhian Lubin
What is the difference between IndyCar and F1?
19:21 , Rhian LubinF1 and IndyCar share similarities, but they also have major differences. The main differences involve where they race, the circuit types, and the cars themselves.
IndyCar races mostly take place in the U.S., with an annual circuit in Toronto, Canada. F1, by contrast, saw its 2026 season span 24 races across 21 countries.
Drivers both race on the road and some street courses, but only IndyCar races on oval circuits. “IndyCars run continuous high-speed laps with almost no braking, while F1 lap times are shaped by a mix of high-speed straights and technical cornering sections,” Red Bull explains.
Examples of IndyCar courses include permanent road courses (Barber Motorsports Park, Road America), street circuits (Long Beach, Detroit), short ovals (Phoenix Raceway, Milwaukee Mile) and superspeedway ovals (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway), per FOX Sports.
The cars look similar, but they are vastly different.
While F1 cars are generally shorter and lower (an F1 car is approximately 5.6 meters long and 2 meters wide), an IndyCar is longer at around 5.1 meters. IndyCars are narrower at approximately 1.9 meters, according to Red Bull. “F1 cars also sit closer to the ground due to their more aggressive aerodynamic packaging.”
F1 cars are typically faster on street circuits while IndyCar dominates on oval circuits, Red Bull notes.
Technical regulations are also different. Every IndyCar team has the same car and the same base components. “In INDYCAR, it’s all about taking the same pieces of a puzzle and making a prettier picture. Or, in this case, a faster car!” FOX Sports notes.
But in F1, every year, each team designs and builds its own car from scratch. While certain regulations need to be followed, “there is more freedom to innovate and differentiate” in F1.
Another major difference? How much top drivers earn. A top F1 driver can earn over $50 million per season, according to Red Bull, while elite IndyCar drivers earn closer to $2-5 million per year.
There are just a few of the similarities and differences between F1 and IndyCar.
Kyle Kirkwood fastest on first laps of new Washington street course
16:40 , Erin KellerKyle Kirkwood topped the first practice session on the new 1.7-mile, seven-turn Washington, D.C., street circuit, posting a fastest lap of 57.3744 seconds at 106.668 mph.
Drivers spent the 90-minute session getting a feel for the new track ahead of Sunday’s 250-mile race.
What a first drive around The District 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VgCm7hlZSY
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 22, 2026
'D.C. is now a racetrack!'
16:20 , Erin KellerThe Freedom 250 begins in wet conditions, with drivers initially needing rain tires as the track starts to dry.
Streets are closed ⛔️
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 22, 2026
D.C. is now a racetrack! 🟢 pic.twitter.com/8ktECz5e1D
Freedom 250 draws corporate sponsors with Trump ties
15:58 , Erin KellerThe Freedom 250 Grand Prix has drawn major corporate sponsors including Boeing, SpaceX’s Starlink, Delta, Amazon, Shell, General Motors and Verizon – another example of the blurred lines between the Trump administration and corporate America, Politico reports.
Many of the major sponsors are getting prominent advertising along the 1.7-mile course, where cars will reach speeds of up to 180 mph.
The event is expected to draw around 140,000 people each day, with corporate executives, administration officials and lawmakers expected to mix at sponsor hospitality suites along the course.
WATCH: Hot laps around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix course
15:38 , Erin KellerCorvette Z06s were giving thrill rides Friday around the Freedom 250 racetrack ahead of this weekend’s event
DC could host more street races in the future
15:00 , Brendan RasciusThis weekend’s Grand Prix may not be the last street race to come to the nation’s capital.
At a press conference last month, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was “very serious” about bringing additional races to Washington, D.C., according to The Washington Examiner.
“We have spent 12 years leaning into our sports and entertainment economy, and it’s a part of our economy that is operating very well,” Bowser said on July 29. “We want to obviously make the world know that D.C. is the place for world-class sporting events.”
‘Is that Epstein?’ Head-scratching AI pic teasing Trump’s DC Grand Prix has folks wondering who’s who
14:00 , Brendan RasciusThe Trump administration drew a wave of mockery after posting an AI-generated image that some social media users claimed featured characters bearing an uncanny resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein and Hillary Clinton.
On Wednesday, the Department of Education shared a Mario Kart–style promotional graphic supposedly depicting President Donald Trump, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy tearing around a racecourse in Washington, D.C.
The image was meant to promote the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar series event scheduled for the National Mall this weekend as part of the nation’s 250th-birthday festivities. “Stay tuned for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix THIS WEEKEND,” the caption states.
Brendan Rascius reports...
Trump administration AI pic mocked for Epstein and Clinton lookalikes
How to watch the race
13:30 , Brendan RasciusThe main race, scheduled for Sunday, will air live on Fox and is expected to last roughly two and a half hours.
General-admission tickets for in-person viewing were offered free to the public but are no longer available, according to NPR. Mayor Muriel Bowser said more than 140,000 spectators are expected to gather around the National Mall to watch the race.
National Gallery moves to protect artwork from Trump’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix vibrations
13:00 , Brendan RasciusThe National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. has taken steps to protect artwork from “extensive vibrations” ahead of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
NASCAR and IndyCar racing legends will reach speeds of up to 185 mph during the race in the heart of the nation’s capital, in and around museums and government buildings, including the famed art gallery.
The National Gallery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits in the middle of the 1.7-mile-long racecourse, and the institution is not taking any chances when it comes to looking after the tens of thousands of valuable artworks it houses, The Washington Post reports.
IN PHOTOS: Downtown DC is turned into a high-speed race track
12:30 , Brendan RasciusPhotos show organizers converting the streets of downtown Washington, D.C., into a high-speed race track ahead of this weekend’s events.
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How much does the race cost?
11:30 , Brendan RasciusThe two-day event required D.C. streets to be converted into a temporary race circuit and carries a price tag of more than $35 million, according to CNN.
IndyCar paid the full cost, while Washington has drawn on a separate $90 million fund for security and emergency planning.
America 250 Grand Prix kicks off today in Washington
11:05 , Brendan RasciusThe America 250 Grand Prix, a two-day high-speed IndyCar racing event, kicks off today in Washington, D.C.
Gates will open at 8 a.m. E.T. on Saturday, according to CNN. The day’s events will include practice races and qualifying rounds.
The main 147-lap race will take place tomorrow, and it is expected to be attended by President Trump.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix track map
Friday 21 August 2026 19:12 , Brendan RasciusThe route, a 1.7 mile loop, will take drivers past the Capitol, Washington Monument and National Archives, according to a map provided by the event’s organizers.
A total of 147 laps will be completed, making for a total distance of about 250 miles. Seven turns are included in the route.
