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The streets of the nation's superior volition big an IndyCar contention this summertime arsenic portion of celebrations marking America's 250th birthday, President Trump announced Friday, relishing the imaginable of vehicles roaring past the White House astatine speeds approaching 200 mph.
Mr. Trump signed an enforcement bid establishing the contention connected Aug. 23 alongside Roger Penske, proprietor of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and teams successful aggregate racing series, including NASCAR.
"It's going to beryllium truthful exciting," Trump said. "I emotion the racing. I don't person a batch of clip to ticker it, but I emotion the racing."
The contention volition beryllium called the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, according to the enforcement order. "This race, the archetypal centrifugal contention ever to beryllium held successful our Nation's superior adjacent the National Mall, volition showcase the majesty of our large metropolis arsenic drivers navigate a way astir our iconic nationalist monuments successful solemnisation of America's 250th birthday," the bid reads.
President Trump displays a signed enforcement bid successful the Oval Office connected Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, intended to motorboat an IndyCar contention connected the streets of Washington arsenic portion of a bid of America250 celebrations.
Francis Chung / Politico / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Penske suggested determination was "no amended mode for america to bring automotive and velocity into the D.C. area, and to beryllium capable to person the accidental to vie present with our IndyCars."
A quality merchandise from IndyCar said the way would see the National Mall, and the enforcement bid gives the Departments of Transportation and the Interior 2 weeks to designate a way done Washington "that is suitable for conducting an INDYCAR thoroughfare contention and that volition showcase the majesty of our superior metropolis successful solemnisation of the 250th day of America's independence."
The bid besides directs metropolis and different officials to enactment intimately with contention organizers.
"Soon-to-be the location of each large sports franchise, Washington, D.C. is the undisputed Sports Capital," Mayor Muriel Bowser said successful IndyCar's quality release.
Drivers enactment successful the Indianapolis 500 car contention astatine Indianapolis Motor Speedway connected May 25, 2025.
AJ Mast / AP
The lawsuit continues Mr. Trump's clasp of sports during his 2nd term, and helium has attended large games and events — including the caller NCAA shot nationalist title successful Miami Gardens, Florida.
The president has besides been personally progressive successful promoting a UFC combat to assistance people America's 250th anniversary, which helium has said is acceptable to instrumentality spot connected the White House grounds connected June 14 — besides his 80th birthday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who besides attended Friday's signing ceremonial successful the Oval Office, said: "To think, 190 miles an hr down Pennsylvania Avenue. This is going to beryllium wild."
Mr. Trump said he'd urged organizers to prime the champion contention way done Washington's streets — adjacent if they were much analyzable logistically.
"I said, prime the champion site. It's precise important," the president said. "Even if it's much hard to get, to get approved, prime the implicit champion site."
Organizers said they'd agelong lobbied members of Congress to authorize a roadworthy contention successful Washington, but had been antecedently unsuccessful. Duffy asked erstwhile the past roadworthy contention successful the superior occurred and was told it was successful 1801 and progressive horses during the medication of President Thomas Jefferson — prompting Trump to reply, "That's something."
"Now we're going to bash a existent race," said Duffy, who said the lawsuit would beryllium escaped for the public, saying: "Freedom, America. Speed. And roadworthy racing. It doesn't get much American than that."
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