WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump took a ride in the president’s armored vehicle known as “The Beast” for a ceremonial lap on the racetrack winding through the nation’s capital before he waved the green flag to officially start the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Aug. 23.
Trump made a similar lap in the presidential limousine at the Daytona 500 last year.
Jet engines roared overhead in the hours before the race began. Military flyovers representing all Armed Forces Branches planned for the day include displays by Ospreys and other tactical formations in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Drivers will start and finish the historic race in front of the U.S. Capitol building, with tight, precision turns testing the 25 racers’ skills before they put the pedal to the metal in wide open stretches on Pennsylvania Avenue, nearing speeds of 200 mph on the street course.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race in Washington on Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
More than 100,000 spectators are expected to attend on Sunday, and the grandstands were filling up early in the morning, hours before the festivities began. Tickets were free and distributed through a lottery system.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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