Officials from the Trump administration and Washington, D.C. leadership unveiled a special livery for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race set for August 23 around the National Mall, during an event outside the U.S. Capitol on March 9, 2026.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser presented the car, which features logos associated with America 250 celebrations. The event is described as free for spectators.[1]

Duffy credited collaboration with IndyCar owner Roger Penske in pitching the road race to President Donald Trump as an "All-American" event in the capital to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. "This was a team effort," Duffy said. "It’s Penske, it’s FOX, it’s the mayor, it’s Interior, it’s everybody else joining together ... to say, let’s celebrate America’s birthday."[1]

FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks highlighted President Trump’s executive order enabling the race as a centerpiece of national festivities. "There is no better way to celebrate America 250 than by showcasing American speed and ingenuity on the streets of our capital," Shanks said.[1]

The planned street circuit will loop around the National Mall with the U.S. Capitol as backdrop, proceeding down 3rd Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, past the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum before returning to 3rd Street.[1]

The NTT IndyCar Series is North America's premier open-wheel, single-seater racing championship, contested on road courses, street circuits and ovals.[2][3]

Penske Entertainment, led by Roger Penske, oversees the series operations and Team Penske, a dominant squad in IndyCar.[2][4]

The race forms part of broader sporting events in Washington for America 250, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission's initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.[5]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital
   Ryan Gaydos article draft on Freedom 250 Grand Prix unveiling
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.foxnews.com/sports
2. IndyCar official website
   NTT IndyCar Series overview
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.indycar.com/
3. Wikipedia
   IndyCar Series (encyclopedic background)
   Accessed October 2024
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IndyCar_Series
4. IndyCar official news
   Penske Entertainment acquisition (2019)
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.indycar.com/News/2019/01/01-25-Penske-Entertainment-NTT-IndyCar-Series
5. America 250 official website
   Home / About page
   Accessed October 2024
   https://america250.org/