Freedom 250 Grand Prix Live: DC gears up for Trump’s IndyCar spectacle as CEOs and lawmakers descend for race

Drivers participating in the 1.7-mile circuit around the nation’s capital did practice laps Saturday afternoon ahead of the qualifying round

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Drivers vying for the top spots in the Freedom 250 IndyCar lineup participated in practice rounds and the qualifiers Saturday ahead of the high-speed Grand Prix taking place Sunday.

Before the qualifying round Saturday afternoon, drivers did practice laps around the 1.7-mile circuit that passes by the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the National Gallery of Art.

FBI Director Kash Patel said he met with the Washington Field Office’s command post to go over security measures in preparation for the more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend the event in the nation’s capital.

The main event is taking place Sunday, when 25 drivers will complete 147 laps of the circuit with a total race distance of roughly 250 miles. Drivers could reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

President Donald Trump is expected to kick off the race by waving a green flag. He will also take a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast.”

The race is part of this summer’s America 250 celebrations marking the country’s semiquincentennial, which have also included the Great American State Fair and the UFC cage match at the White House.

The Federal Aviation Administration is pausing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for several hours today as the nation’s capital celebrates the Freedom 250 Grand Prix with flyovers and other events.

Between at least 10:15 a.m. ET and 1:15 p.m. ET, flights will be paused. That is subject to change.

The FAA is asking travelers to check their flight status with their airlines.

Even for experienced IndyCar drivers, competing on a circuit set against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol proves remarkable.

"We get to race at a lot of cool cities, but this one is by far the best that we've ever had, and I can say that very truthfully," Kyle Kirkwood noted on Friday. "Going by the Capitol building, the views here, all the architecture of all the buildings around here, all the museums, it's stuff that you dream of.

"It's a serious honor and privilege,” Kirkwood said.

“As a boy from the Netherlands that just got his green card, it is really cool,” said Rinus VeeKay, who has six top-10 finishes this season. “We didn't get too much U.S. history in school ... but learning so much about it here, seeing all the monuments and museums and just how every building kind of has a special purpose here around the city, is very cool. Getting to see the White House, this is stuff you see in movies.”

Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, said he hopes the Freedom 250 Grand Prix delivers lasting commercial success to IndyCar.

“This is, I mean, it's a massive event for IndyCar commercially,” Brown told FOX Sports, according to Motorsport

“I think this is going to bring a lot of awareness to IndyCar for new fans. And I think when they tune in, they're going to love it. The amount of executives we have here is phenomenal, so I'm already hoping there's a year two, but I guess let's get through year one first.”

Alex Palou, one of the drivers competing in the Freedom 250 IndyCar qualifiers, described the D.C. track as “super fun” but “very bumpy.”

“It’s very bumpy. There’s some big bumps right here and there but super fun,” Palou told FOX Saturday after several practice rounds.

Palou said the largest bumps were headed on turn two and turn six.

Louis Foster, another driver, lost control of his car briefly after hitting a bump on turn six. His car hit one of the walls, damaging the front of the car.

Ron Klain, former President Joe Biden’s chief of staff, praised the IndyCar race taking place in the nation’s capital this weekend, telling Politico ’s “Playbook” he was “glad” to see the race.

“It's an amazing sport because it combines the heroism, courage and skill of the drivers, and then the amazing technological achievements of the cars,” Klain, a massive fan of racing, told Politico .

But when asked about Trump’s efforts to get the race in D.C., Klain praised Penske – the company leading the sponsorships of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

“Not only the leading sponsor of the sport and leading advocate of the sport, but now the custodian of the sport’s greatest site, the international Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Klain said.

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