IndyCar takes to DC streets for Freedom 250 Grand Prix, thrilling fans
IndyCar wowed fans during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix qualifying event in Washington, D.C., as drivers raced past landmarks along the National Mall.
As the Freedom 250 Grand Prix gets underway in Washington, D.C., people from all over the country are descending on the National Mall for the city’s first-ever Indy car race.
The historic event is drawing racing fans from coast to coast to watch star drivers race past federal landmarks, with the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument as scenery.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is taking place Aug. 22-23. Around 250,000 people are expected to attend the seven-turn race, which will loop around the east end of the National Mall and run down Pennsylvania and Independence Avenues.
Reid Wiseman, commander of NASA’s April 2026 Artemis II mission, told USA TODAY he’s excited to see the city from the cockpit of a two-seat Indy car.
Wiseman is set to ride in the pace car that will lead the field to the starting line on Sunday, Aug. 23. He first became a fan of open wheel racing when he attended the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016 after returning from the International Space Station.
“I love being immersed in any foreign environment,” said Wiseman, adding that he’s thrilled “to feel what the drivers feel, to get into the firesuit that they wear, to feel what the cockpit of that race car feels like.”
Though he’s traveled at astronomical speeds, he said the speed, the cornering and braking in a race car are unlike anything he’s experienced before.
Fans come from across the country to watch history unfold
Steve Koss, 53, from Lancaster, South Carolina, is attending his first-ever Indy car race.
Before arriving in Washington, D.C., he stopped at Dominion Raceway and Entertainment in Woodford, Virginia, with Tour DeLux Rally, a charity serving children with disabilities interested in motorsports.
“We did some parade laps with all the kids, put some smiles on their faces, had a lot of fun,” Koss said.
He’s enthusiastic about seeing the street course, a unique feature for professional racing that presents challenges for drivers.
“Street courses are really tough,” Koss said. “The roads are a lot bumpier than tracks so it’ll be really interesting.”
Cory Marie Frederick, 46, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, grew up going to racing events with her dad, who died 25 years ago.
She said the event gives her a chance to reminiscence about the times they spent together.
“He just loved anything that had four wheels and went fast,” she said. “This is just really special.”
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY based in Washington, D.C. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
So it’s like the Indy 500 but in DC streets? That seems dangerous tbh.
I swear they close the mall and then charge people a fortune. 250,000 sounds fake too. Also why is NASA guy doing this, shouldn’t he be focused on space?
The article says NASA Artemis II commander rides the pace car… so like he’s gonna do laps around the Capitol and that’s somehow “history”? Not sure if I’m reading that right. Street course loop down Pennsylvania Ave and Independence Ave… I thought that was already named after something else but ok.
Dominion Raceway parade laps w kids with disabilities?? That part is actually really nice. But all the rest, people acting like it’s the best thing ever while the traffic is gonna be insane. And if not all DC residents are enthused, I get it. Plus “Freedom 250” like… is this tied to Trump or just racing branding? Half the time I hear different stuff.