Trump attends Washington's first high-speed IndyCar street race
US President Donald Trump watched the first professional street race held in Washington DC on Sunday, capping a summer of events marking the country's 250th anniversary. A new Air Force One performed a flyover as the race concluded.
Washington DC hosted its first-ever professional road race on Sunday, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, drawing hundreds of spectators including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The event closed out a series of summer celebrations for the nation's 250th birthday.
The presidential couple took a ceremonial lap around the 1.7-mile track in the presidential limousine known as "The Beast." As they crossed the finish line, the new Air Force One flew over the capital.
Washington DC normally has the lowest speed limit of any US city, capped at 55mph (89km/h). On Sunday, however, some of the world's fastest drivers reached speeds of up to 190mph (306km/h) as they raced past the city's landmark monuments and museums.
Twenty-five professional drivers completed 147 laps with seven demanding turns, covering a total of 250 miles — a number chosen to echo the anniversary. The route passed the Washington Monument and museums along the National Mall, finishing with the US Capitol building visible in the background.
Like Formula 1, IndyCar racing uses open-wheel, single-seater vehicles, but unlike F1, where teams build their own cars, every IndyCar runs on an engine supplied exclusively by either Chevrolet or Honda.
Organisers estimated roughly 140,000 people would attend, with many receiving free tickets through a lottery system, while premium packages sold for $5,000 per pair.
Staging the race required extensive logistics and security preparations, including widespread road closures, bolted-down manholes and resurfaced streets. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was closed for three hours to allow the military flyover.
Earlier in the summer, Trump also hosted a UFC event on the White House lawn and a fireworks display on 4 July.
