Drivers vying for the top spots in the Freedom 250 IndyCar lineup participated in practice rounds and the qualifiers Saturday ahead of the high-speed Grand Prix taking place Sunday.
Before the qualifying round Saturday afternoon, drivers did practice laps around the 1.7-mile circuit that passes by the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the National Gallery of Art.
FBI Director Kash Patel said he met with the Washington Field Office’s command post to go over security measures in preparation for the more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend the event in the nation’s capital.
The main event is taking place Sunday, when 25 drivers will complete 147 laps of the circuit with a total race distance of roughly 250 miles. Drivers could reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
President Donald Trump is expected to kick off the race by waving a green flag. He will also take a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast.”
The race is part of this summer’s America 250 celebrations marking the country’s semiquincentennial, which have also included the Great American State Fair and the UFC cage match at the White House.
Qualifiers: Round 2 results
1. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda
2. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
3. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
4. Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
5. David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
6. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
Ariana Baio22 August 2026 23:00
Qualifiers: Round 1, Group 2 results
1. David Malukas, Team Penske Chevrolet
2. Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
3. Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
4. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet
5. Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
6. Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Ariana Baio22 August 2026 22:45
Qualifiers: Round 1, Group 1 results
1. Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda
2. Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
3. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
4. Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
5. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
6. Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
Ariana Baio22 August 2026 22:30
FBI director meets with DC field office ahead of Grand Prix
FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday he met with the command post out of the Washington Field Office ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and touted safety measures put into place.
“FBI has a huge presence here to keep this event safe – nearly 400 personnel dedicated between Headquarters and President Trump’s DC ‘Safe and Beautiful Task Force’ to manage the security lift,” Patel wrote on X.
Among those helping keep the event safe are the Critical Incident Response team, multiple intelligence components and the Command Post operators. Patel said SWAT was on standby as well.
Ariana Baio22 August 2026 22:00
Qualifying round to begin soon
Drivers are getting ready to compete in the qualifying round of the Freedom 250 IndyCar series to determine the order for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.
Drivers will have six minutes to post the fastest lap time that they can. The driver with the fastest time will secure a position closer to the front for Sunday’s race.
The qualifying round is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET.
Ariana Baio22 August 2026 21:55
DC manhole covers have been 'welded down' to keep spectators safe – Sec Burgum
Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum says that manhole covers are being “welded down” in Washington, D.C. to ensure spectators and drivers are kept safe during Sunday’s race.
Burgum says that the IndyCar Series team and Freedom 250 have “taken every precaution” to keep people safe, including “making sure they’re welding the manhole covers down so they don’t get sucked up like a vacuum when these cars come flying over the top of them, he told NewsMax.
Rhian Lubin22 August 2026 21:30
How the National Gallery is protecting priceless artworks ahead of the race
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. has taken steps to protect artwork from “extensive vibrations” ahead of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
NASCAR and IndyCar racing legends will reach speeds of up to 185 mph during the race in the heart of the nation’s capital, in and around museums and government buildings, including the famed art gallery.
The National Gallery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits in the middle of the 1.7-mile-long racecourse, and the institution is not taking any chances when it comes to looking after the tens of thousands of valuable artworks it houses, The Washington Post reported.
Read on…
DC gallery moves to protect artwork from Freedom 250 Grand Prix
The National Gallery sits in the middle of the 1.7-mile-long racecourse Rhian Lubin22 August 2026 21:00
Freedom 250 Grand Prix track map
The route, a 1.7 mile loop, will take drivers past the Capitol, Washington Monument and National Archives, according to a map provided by the event’s organizers.
A total of 147 laps will be completed, making for a total distance of about 250 miles. Seven turns are included in the route.
Take a look below.
Rhian Lubin22 August 2026 20:30
In pictures: Crowds spectate IndyCar drivers warming up in DC
Rhian Lubin22 August 2026 20:00
What is the difference between IndyCar and F1?
F1 and IndyCar share similarities, but they also have major differences. The main differences involve where they race, the circuit types, and the cars themselves.
IndyCar races mostly take place in the U.S., with an annual circuit in Toronto, Canada. F1, by contrast, saw its 2026 season span 24 races across 21 countries.
Drivers both race on the road and some street courses, but only IndyCar races on oval circuits. “IndyCars run continuous high-speed laps with almost no braking, while F1 lap times are shaped by a mix of high-speed straights and technical cornering sections,” Red Bull explains.
Examples of IndyCar courses include permanent road courses (Barber Motorsports Park, Road America), street circuits (Long Beach, Detroit), short ovals (Phoenix Raceway, Milwaukee Mile) and superspeedway ovals (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway), per FOX Sports.
The cars look similar, but they are vastly different.
While F1 cars are generally shorter and lower (an F1 car is approximately 5.6 meters long and 2 meters wide), an IndyCar is longer at around 5.1 meters. IndyCars are narrower at approximately 1.9 meters, according to Red Bull. “F1 cars also sit closer to the ground due to their more aggressive aerodynamic packaging.”
F1 cars are typically faster on street circuits while IndyCar dominates on oval circuits, Red Bull notes.
Technical regulations are also different. Every IndyCar team has the same car and the same base components. “In INDYCAR, it’s all about taking the same pieces of a puzzle and making a prettier picture. Or, in this case, a faster car!” FOX Sports notes.
But in F1, every year, each team designs and builds its own car from scratch. While certain regulations need to be followed, “there is more freedom to innovate and differentiate” in F1.
Another major difference? How much top drivers earn. A top F1 driver can earn over $50 million per season, according to Red Bull, while elite IndyCar drivers earn closer to $2-5 million per year.
There are just a few of the similarities and differences between F1 and IndyCar.
Rhian Lubin22 August 2026 19:21NewerOlder