IndyCar’s course for this summer’s Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., will see open-wheel cars zoom around the National Mall with a track that passes directly in front of the National Archives and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, in what will be one of the most scenic backdrops in American racing history.
The seven-turn, 1.7-mile circuit announced Monday at a news conference in Washington has drivers directly crossing the Mall twice and racing down Pennsylvania Avenue — just blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
IndyCar’s race was announced by President Donald Trump on Jan. 30, with an executive order titled “Celebrating American Greatness with American Motor Racing” and called for the typical red tape that comes with racing in a major city to be eliminated by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation.
The race, part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, will be free and open to the public Aug. 22-23.
The Freedom 250 course layout. (Courtesy of IndyCar)
“This circuit is unlike any other street race we’ve seen,” said two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who toured the circuit on Monday morning after flying from a race in Phoenix. “You’ve got a high-speed section down Pennsylvania Avenue that will reward commitment and precision, mixed with technical corners around 9th Street that will demand respect.
“Racing through the heart of American history, with those amazing landmarks lining the course, is going to be incredibly powerful.”
The 1.7-mile course is on the shorter side for street racing, but it’s not unusual. The length is comparable to IndyCar’s street race in Detroit (1.645 miles, nine turns). When racing in a city, availability of streets is a major factor in designing the layout; if there’s more room, like on the streets surrounding the Dallas Cowboys stadium (where IndyCar debuts its new grand prix this weekend), the cars can see a longer course (2.73 miles, in that case).
But at this event, the racing itself will be secondary, given the spectacle of racing on the streets of the nation’s capital. It’s a concept that would perhaps be the longest of long shots without the full support of the federal government — and will be a major moment for IndyCar, which often finds itself overlooked by NASCAR and Formula 1 in the United States (with the exception of the Indianapolis 500).
“The story of America is one of vision, courage, perseverance — and speed,” said Ambassador Monica Crowley, President Trump’s representative for America’s 250th. “Presidents Washington and Jefferson marked notable celebrations with spirited horse races; the Freedom 250 race will bring that historic tradition into the 21st century and renew a tremendous sense of patriotic pride.”
Monday’s news conference featured a variety of officials locking arms in support of the race, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Washington mayor Muriel Bowser, along with Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis and FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks (whose network will broadcast the race).
