Donald Trump Signs Order to Launch IndyCar Race in Washington D.C.

Motorsport, Sportrik Media - United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order initiating the process of staging an IndyCar Series street race in Washington, D.C., marking a significant step toward bringing top-level motorsport to the nation’s capital for the first time.

The signing took place on Friday in the Oval Office, attended by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and IndyCar owner Roger Penske. The executive order confirms plans for a race titled the Freedom 250, scheduled to take place on August 21–23 as part of nationwide celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

The event is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. If realised, it would represent the first-ever motorsport event held in the U.S. capital, with a proposed street circuit set around iconic landmarks near the National Mall and other historic monuments.

From a sporting perspective, the Washington, D.C. round is provisionally positioned in the IndyCar calendar between the visit to Markham, Ontario, in Canada and a double-header weekend at the Milwaukee Mile the following week. However, significant logistical planning remains, particularly regarding road closures, security arrangements, and coordination between federal and local authorities.

“IndyCar racing is a source of pride and entertainment for our Nation, which is why I am pleased to announce the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.,” Trump stated in the executive order released following the signing ceremony.

“This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our Nation’s capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump also highlighted IndyCar’s historical significance and its identity as a distinctly American form of motorsport, emphasising the spectacle and legacy of the series.

“For over one hundred years, American IndyCar racing has set the pace for motorsports. With speeds topping over 200 miles per hour, the cars and drivers inspire awe and respect in all who watch this quintessentially American sport,” the statement continued.

If the Freedom 250 proceeds as planned, it would represent one of the most ambitious street-race projects in modern American motorsport, placing Washington, D.C. alongside major global cities that host high-profile urban racing events. The next phase will focus on feasibility studies, security assessments, and formal integration of the race into the official IndyCar calendar.