IndyCar unveils race course for its D.C. Grand Prix this summer
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IndyCar comes to the National Mall in August with a 1.7-mile circuit in the heart of D.C. Rendering courtesy IndyCar
Engines are revving for D.C.'s Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which brings the NTT IndyCar Series to the National Mall Aug. 22–23.
Why it matters: It'll be the first-ever auto race on the National Mall, timed for America's 250th birthday — and it's free and open to the public.
Driving the news: Officials unveiled the 1.7-mile circuit, event designs and a patriotic show car on Monday.
🏁 Vroom in: The seven-turn course mixes a flat-out stretch down Pennsylvania Avenue NW with tighter, technical turns near 9th Street — all framed by the Capitol, Washington Monument and Smithsonian museums.
- Officials say the layout prioritizes fan access, postcard-worthy views and safety.
Between the lines: Two-time IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden, who toured the route Monday, called it unlike any street race he's seen — pairing high-speed commitment with technical corners, all set against a historical backdrop (we locals tend to take that for granted).
The intrigue: Organizers debuted a custom red, white and blue IndyCar, built on the same open-wheel Dallara chassis used across the series.
- The car will tour the DMV in the coming months as a rolling preview.
The big picture: The race stems from an executive order by President Trump and the administration's Freedom 250 arm, which is organizing a growing number of semiquincentennial events in D.C. like the UFC cage match at the White House (June 14).
- The D.C. government and Monumental Sports & Entertainment — owner of the Caps and Wizards — are partners, and will promote what's expected to be a weeklong festival around race weekend.
What's next: The circuit's buildout will begin this summer (date TBA), with the roads near the Capitol and around the Mall expected to remain "open and accessible throughout the majority of the course creation," per officials.