This weekend, downtown Washington, D.C., will trade bumper-to-bumper traffic for street racing, with the NTT IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix race.
Sunday’s race, which will be 250 miles long in honor of America’s 250th birthday, will be the second-longest circuit race in IndyCar history.
It’s the 15th race in an 18-race championship. Drivers will participate in a two-day competition, with practice drives Saturday before a 5 p.m. EDT qualifying race. The qualifiers will determine starting order for the 1 p.m. EDT final race on Sunday.
What to know about the race
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January authorizing the race as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
It will take place in downtown Washington near the National Mall and racers will drive along Pennsylvania Avenue with the U.S. Capitol in the background.
According to IndyCar, drivers will steer 1,700-pound cars that are 2 inches off the ground and “often times 2 inches away from their closest competitor.” They experience high heart rates and experience up to five times their body weight while taking turns and up to 1.5 times their body weight while accelerating.
IndyCar predicts drivers will reach speeds of 180-200 miles per hour on Washington’s streets.
The Washington Post reported earlier this week that crews were seen welding down more than 200 manholes for the race. Due to the high speeds of the race and the design of the cars, air is funneled under the car and pressed against the manholes. The pressure under the manhole would be like a pressure cooker and shoot up like “ballistic shells into the car” if they weren’t welded down, the Post reported.
It’s the first motor race on the streets of Washington, D.C., and around the National Mall. At 250 miles long, it’s the second-longest street circuit race in IndyCar history.
Drivers will compete in the nation’s capital before heading to Milwaukee and California for a doubleheader over Labor Day weekend.
The race will be broadcast on Fox Sports.
Trump was joined by drivers Álex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukas at a White House ceremony in July, alongside Roger Penske, owner of IndyCar, Bud Denker, president of the Penske Corporation, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks, and General Motors President Mark Reuss, as well as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
They showcased American innovation and automobiles. Duffy noted that when thinking about America’s 250th, “you also think about cars.”
Penske said the event in Washington was an opportunity to “showcase the technology, the speed, the partnerships, and the athletes” that make the events special.
IndyCar is looking to promote itself as North America’s “premier open-wheel racing series.” Drivers represent 14 nations and there are eight drivers from the United States.
The event is being put on in partnership with Freedom 250, an organization commissioned by Trump that hosted various events to celebrate the big anniversary, including the UFC fight at the White House, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall and more.