IndyCar to Race Through Washington D.C. in Historic 250th Birthday Celebration
A thrilling IndyCar street race is set to roar through the nation’s capital this summer, marking a unique component of the celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary. The announcement, made Friday by the President, envisions vehicles reaching speeds of nearly 200 mph past iconic landmarks like the White House.
The race, formalized through an executive order signed alongside Roger Penske, owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar, and NASCAR teams, is scheduled for August 23rd. “It’s going to be so exciting,” the President remarked,adding,”I love the racing. I don’t have a lot of time to watch it, but I love the racing.”
Penske echoed the enthusiasm, stating there was “no better way for us to bring automotive and speed into the DC area, and to be able to have the opportunity to compete here with our Indycars.”
The planned route, according to an IndyCar news release, will incorporate the National Mall. The executive order tasks the Departments of Transportation and the interior with designating a suitable route within two weeks, one that “will showcase the majesty of our capital city” while accommodating the high-speed competition. city officials will be expected to collaborate closely with race organizers throughout the planning process.
This event underscores the President’s continued engagement with the sports world during his term, a pattern evidenced by attendance at major events like the recent NCAA football national championship in Miami Gardens, Florida. He is also personally championing a UFC fight planned for June 14th – coinciding with his 80th birthday – potentially to be held on the White House grounds.
Interestingly, the President indicated he will not attend the Super Bowl on February 8th, citing the distance to Santa Clara, California, as a deterrent. However, in the case of IndyCar, the race is coming directly to him.
A senior official at the signing ceremony in the Oval Office enthusiastically predicted, “To think, 190 miles an hour down Pennsylvania Avenue. This is going to be wild.” The President emphasized the importance of selecting the optimal race route, even if it presents logistical challenges. “I said, pick the best site. It’s very important,” he stated. “Even if it’s more difficult to get, to get approved, pick the absolute best site.”
organizers revealed they had previously discussed the idea with a transportation secretary, who recalled the last racing event in the capital involved horses in 1801 during Thomas Jefferson’s administration, prompting the President to respond, “That’s something.” The secretary then declared, “Now we’re going to do a real race,” adding that the event would be free to the public and embodying “Freedom, America. Speed. And road racing. It doesn’t get more American than that.”
as of now, the race’s end is undetermined. organizers are still in the planning stages, and the exact route and race length are yet to be finalized.The Departments of Transportation and the Interior are expected to present route options within two weeks, after which further details will be announced. The event is intended to be a one-time celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, with no current plans for future races in the capital.
