Kyle Kirkwood won the Freedom 250 Grand Prix Washington on Sunday, taking victory in the first professional road race ever held on the streets of the US capital, an event that drew an estimated 140,000 spectators and a ceremonial lap from President Donald Trump.
IndyCar confirmed Kirkwood’s victory in a race that served as the centrepiece of America’s 250th birthday celebrations. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump completed a lap of the 1.7-mile circuit in the presidential limousine, known as The Beast, before his new Air Force One performed a flyover above the capital as they crossed the finish line.
Andretti Global sweeps all three new 2026 street circuits
Kirkwood’s win was part of a dominant run for his team. According to Andretti Global, the outfit has now claimed victory at all three new street circuits added to the 2026 IndyCar calendar: Kirkwood in Arlington, Marcus Ericsson in Markham, and Kirkwood again in Washington DC. Ericsson, who won last weekend’s inaugural race in Markham, finished fourth in Washington, narrowly missing what would have been an all-Andretti podium.
The race itself was a turbulent affair. Andretti Global reported the 146-lap contest featured six caution periods totalling 29 laps, reflecting the demands of racing through tight urban streets lined with federal monuments and museums.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix Washington: the event in full
The circuit took drivers past the Washington Monument and the museums lining the National Mall, with the US Capitol building visible behind the finish line. Washington DC ordinarily operates under a 55mph (89kmh) speed limit, the lowest of any US jurisdiction. On Sunday, drivers reached speeds of up to 190mph (306kmh) through those same streets.
The race format set out 147 laps across a 250-mile total course, a figure chosen as a direct nod to the nation’s anniversary. Seven crucial turns punctuated each lap, adding further technical challenge on a circuit carved through the heart of the capital.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix draws comparison to Formula 1 in format: both series use open-wheel, single-seater cars on road circuits. One key distinction is that while F1 teams design and build their own cars, IndyCar engines come exclusively from Chevrolet or Honda.
Organisers said around 140,000 people were expected to attend over the course of the event, with many receiving free general admission tickets through a public lottery. Premium hospitality packages sold for $5,000 per pair of passes. Those lining the barriers included families who had travelled from across the country, many wearing Uncle Sam hats, with at least one spectator arriving dressed as the Statue of Liberty.
American driver Josef Newgarden told the BBC ahead of the race that the occasion carried real weight. ‘It’s super unique. You might never see this again, and as an American driver, it’s very special celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country,’ he said. ‘It’s a beautiful city, and it’s very surreal.’
Staging the race required an extensive logistical operation across the city. Road closures were put in place across a wide area, manholes were bolted down, and road surfaces were relaid along the circuit. The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was placed under a three-hour airspace closure to accommodate the military flyover. The National Gallery of Art carried out vibration tests to verify its collection could withstand engine noise at race speeds.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix formed the final instalment in a run of summer events at the White House and across the capital to mark the country’s 250th anniversary. Earlier in the summer, Trump hosted a UFC event on the White House lawn and a fireworks display on 4 July.
