Trump and Melania Attend America 250 Freedom Grand Prix in Washington DC
- President Donald Trump drove an armored limousine around the National Mall and waved the green flag to start the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC, on Sunday.
- The unique capital-city race looped around Pennsylvania Avenue, taking drivers past the US Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, and the National Mall.
- President Trump was granted the ceremonial honor of performing a full lap around the track in his armored presidential limousine, known as "The Beast," accompanied by a Secret...
President Donald Trump drove an armored limousine around the National Mall and waved the green flag to start the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC, on Sunday. The 147-lap IndyCar race drew spectators and brought open-wheel cars racing at speeds up to 185 mph past landmark federal buildings on a newly constructed 1.7-mile street circuit.
Armored Limos and IndyCars on the National Mall
An Executive Order Brings Racing to Pennsylvania Avenue
The unique capital-city race looped around Pennsylvania Avenue, taking drivers past the US Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, and the National Mall. President Trump created the event by executive order as part of the official commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Ahead of the start, Trump arrived at the pit road in a limousine and greeted a lineup of drivers, IndyCar staff, and Roger Penske, whose Penske Corporation owns the IndyCar series.
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The Beast Takes a Ceremonial Lap
President Trump was granted the ceremonial honor of performing a full lap around the track in his armored presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” accompanied by a Secret Service motorcade while military aircraft flew overhead. First Lady Melania Trump joined the President at the start line, telling Fox Sports in a pre-race interview that she was introduced to automotive design and speed by her father, who owned Maserati and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Several cabinet members, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, were also spotted in the gallery alongside Donald Trump Jr. and other family members.
High-Speed Crashes on the New Street Circuit
The race featured intense on-track action and notable incidents before a winner was crowned. Championship contender David Malukas slammed into the outside wall of Turn 7 on the new street course, resulting in a collision with Sting Ray Robb. A later crash on lap 43 involving Marcus Armstrong and Christian Rasmussen sidelined Rinus VeeKay, though spectators reported relief that no drivers sustained serious injuries.
Kyle Kirkwood Claims the Victory
After 147 laps of racing in summer temperatures that prompted fans to utilize cooling tents along the course, Kyle Kirkwood captured the victory to earn his second IndyCar Series victory of the season. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy waved the checkered flag to signal the finish. Christian Lundgaard and Kirkwood’s teammate Will Power rounded out the podium positions, capping an afternoon of pomp, circumstance, and motorsport competition in the nation’s capital.
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