INDYCAR drivers stage White House visit ahead of Freedom 250
The one-and-done street race serves as the capstone to the nation’s 250th anniversary, with the President expected to wave the green flag for the 147-lap event.
INDYCAR drivers and executives conducted a promotional tour of Washington, D.C., on Thursday, visiting the White House and the U.S. Capitol ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday. The visit marks a significant institutional moment for the series, as the event is designed to cap off the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, and Alexander Rossi visited the White House Rose Garden, where they presented a racing helmet to First Lady Melania Trump. McLaughlin, a native of New Zealand who became a U.S. citizen last year, noted that this was his first visit to the capital.
Other drivers, including Santino Ferrucci, Alex Palou, and Pato O’Ward, visited the U.S. Capitol grounds and the Cannon House Office Building. Palou, a four-time INDYCAR champion from Spain, described the opportunity to race on the grounds as incredible, highlighting the personal and professional significance of the event for international drivers.
Roger Penske, Chairman of Penske Entertainment Corp., stated at the White House that the event would cap off the 250th anniversary of the country. The race is a one-and-done street circuit on a 1.7-mile, seven-turn course that includes Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and Independence Avenue. The start-finish line is located across from the U.S. Capitol, while the western part of the course offers a view of the Washington Monument.
The local metro transportation authority shuttled an INDYCAR show car on a subway rail throughout the system on Thursday to promote public transport usage for the race. The pre-race spectacle includes six flyovers, one for each branch of the military, scheduled to begin after FOX pre-race coverage starts at 11:30 a.m. ET.
President Trump is expected to wave the green flag for the 147-lap race shortly after 1 p.m. ET. The event is expected to last approximately three hours, with Marcus Ericsson arriving as the most recent race winner following his victory at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham on 16 August.
