White House revs up ‘iconic’ Freedom 250 race as IndyCars prepare to unleash American muscle on DC streets
A roaring display of American muscle will be unleashed in the streets of Washington, D.C., this afternoon as IndyCar racers zoom through the city in a first-of-its-kind race, capping off a summer of celebration for America's 250th birthday.
"President [Donald] Trump is ensuring America gets the spectacular birthday it deserves as we celebrate our 250th anniversary," White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital.
The race is called the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, and top IndyCar drivers, including this year's Indianapolis 500 winner, Felix Rosenqvist, will take to the streets of the nation's capital vying for victory in vehicles designed to drive at nearly 200 mph.
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The course is a 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit including a .4-mile front stretch along Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House.
"The historic IndyCar race set to take place in our Nation’s Capital will be one of the greatest and most iconic races in history," Ingle said. "The President will leave his imprint on this historic race in a way that only he can."
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Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., whose home state is also the country's motorsports capital, said the event made her proud of her fellow Hoosiers.
"For 250 years, Americans have been willing to take risks and innovate, and compete, and dream bigger. And, you know, Indycar racing certainly is a testament to that through motorsports, through excellence in manufacturing, and ingenuity — and Indiana certainly embodies that tradition," Houchin told Fox News Digital.
Houchin also revealed that she got an up-close-and-personal preview of the event by riding in one of the cars for a fast lap around the track.
"I mean, it was incredible. You go down that first straightaway, and it's so fast that you almost lose your stomach for a second. It is thrilling to take one of those turns and see the U.S. Capitol there. It was really special," she said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took point on the race's organization.
"What’s more American than fast cars racing through the streets of our nation’s capital? If that doesn’t make you proud to be an American, I don’t know what will," Duffy told Fox News Digital. "The Department of Transportation was proud to help bring President Trump’s one-of-a-kind vision to life this weekend for an unforgettable celebration of America’s talents, innovation, and drive for excellence. At 250 years, freedom doesn’t just ring — it revs!"
Trump previewed the event in July. Standing outside the White House, he spoke alongside Penske Corporation founder and chairman Roger Penske, the company's president, Bud Denker, and Duffy.
"Unprecedented events will take place next month right here in our nation's capital. On Aug. 22 and 23," Trump said at the time.
"It will be an awesome display of American patriotism and raw horsepower ingenuity. You're going to see cars at the level that they've never been at before, with cars racing more than 190 mph and even higher than that down Pennsylvania Avenue," he continued.
Trump also thanked Duffy for helping to make the race happen.
"But what Sean Duffy has done with these incredible, brilliant people is really amazing. It's going to be a sight for the ages," he said. "It really will be something special, and they're going to go all around the National Mall at speeds that are not quite, if we did that during the regular day, I think people would be put in jail, perhaps for the rest of their lives."
When remarks concluded, one of the IndyCars demonstrated a pit stop.
All four tires on the vehicle were changed, and its gas tank was filled in less than six seconds as the president and media looked on in awe.
The event, which begins at 1 p.m. ET, offers free general admission and is open to the public.