IndyCar is holding its first race in D.C. today. Here's what to know.
Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Tickets for general admission to the race were free, but the window for requesting them closed in June.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.
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Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 8:44 AM EDT / CBS News Washington — Twenty-five cars traveling at top speeds approaching 180 mph are zooming around the National Mall this weekend as the racing series IndyCar takes over downtown D.C. for a race commemorating the nation's 250th birthday . The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., attracted thousands of fans to the National Mall, according to CBS affiliate WUSA , on Saturday ahead of Sunday's main event. The event is the first major auto race in the capital in more than 24 years. On Sunday morning, the White House posted on its official social media accounts , "WAKE UP, IT'S RACE DAY." The area around the track has been transformed over the past several weeks to make way for the construction of grandstands and enormous barriers, with large portions of the area blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up." President Trump is expected to wave the green flag to kick off the race Sunday, which has been in the works for more than a year.