Trending Now - New Circuit and Logo Revealed for Freedom 250 Grand Prix

WHO:

President Donald Trump, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Ambassador Monica Crowley, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Bud Denker (president of Penske Corporation), Eric Shanks (CEO of Fox Sports), Josef Newgarden (IndyCar driver), Keith Krach (CEO of Freedom 250), Ted Leonsis (Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner & CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment).

WHAT:

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature a 1.7-mile layout, blending high-speed demands with historic visuals.

The pit lane area will be located on Pennsylvania Avenue, between Turns 1 and 2 of the circuit design.

The official Freedom 250 Grand Prix INDYCAR features a custom red, white, and blue livery created specifically to honor 250 years of American independence.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix INDYCAR is an open-wheel, single-seat Dallara chassis identical to those competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, part of the NTT IndyCar Series, will be held on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026.

The race route is 1.66 miles long with seven turns.

The event is free for spectators.

The race is expected to attract over a million visitors.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is the first-ever auto race held on the National Mall.

The event will be broadcast live on FOX.

WHERE:

The race will take place in Washington, D.C., specifically around the National Mall, starting on Third Street in front of the U.S. Capitol, and will include Pennsylvania Avenue, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Archives.

WHEN:

Buildout of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix circuit will begin later in 2026, with roads near the U.S. Capitol and around the National Mall expected to remain open and accessible throughout the majority of the course creation.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will occur on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026.

The course design was unveiled on March 9th, 2026.

WHY:

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix aims to showcase American ingenuity in engineering and technology along the backdrop of the historic capital.

The event is part of a wide-ranging slate of activities to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The race aims to showcase American speed, ingenuity, and the spirit of the nation.

HOW:

The event is supported by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), which will serve as the event’s official marketing, sponsorships, and corporate hospitality sales partner.

The race was formalized through an executive order signed by President Trump titled “Celebrating American Greatness with American Motor Racing.”

The event was planned through collaboration between federal, local, and private sector officials, including Penske Corporation and Fox Sports.

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 01:23 UTC)

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will feature a 1.7-mile street circuit that combines high-speed racing with the historic visuals of Washington, D.C., and is set to begin construction later this year. The event will showcase a custom red, white, and blue INDYCAR, designed to honor 250 years of American independence, while the pit lane will be located on Pennsylvania Avenue between Turns 1 and 2. Supported by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix aims to highlight American ingenuity in engineering and technology against the backdrop of the nation's capital.

--

(UPDATED March 9, 2026 23:07 UTC)

Today, President Trump announced the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, set to take place on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, marking the first-ever auto race held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The race will cover a 1.66-mile course featuring seven turns, starting in front of the U.S. Capitol and passing iconic landmarks, with an expected turnout of over a million spectators, and it will be broadcast live on FOX. This event, part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States, was formalized through an executive order signed by Trump and involved collaboration among various officials and organizations, including Penske Corporation and Fox Sports.