Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he hopes this weekend’s IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., will unite Americans while showcasing high-speed racing through some of the nation’s most recognizable landmarks.
The first-of-its-kind IndyCar event will feature a 1.66-mile course through the nation’s capital, with drivers completing 147 laps for a total of 250 miles.
President Donald Trump is also expected to make an appearance before Sunday’s race, taking a lap around the course in the presidential limousine known as “The Beast.”
“The president loves sports,” Duffy told the New York Post. “He’s an enthusiast, as you saw with UFC, and now with this.”
Duffy said the event could provide Americans with something to enjoy together despite the country’s political divisions.
“And I think if you look at the political divide in America, this is an event that brings America together,” Duffy said. “Cars and racing is freedom and American.”
The event was developed through cooperation between Duffy, racing businessman Roger Penske and Penske Corporation President Bud Denker.
Drivers are expected to reach speeds approaching 190 mph while racing along Pennsylvania Avenue and through seven turns near the National Mall.
Preparing Washington’s streets for the race required crews to secure manhole covers and grind down some uneven portions of the roadway.
“They’ve had to take grinders out to take off some of the bumps,” Duffy said, noting that the imperfections are also part of the challenge of road racing.
Organizers initially considered a course that would circle the U.S. Capitol, but those plans were not approved. Instead, the route was shifted west, taking drivers around the National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
The start-finish line will be located near the Capitol Reflecting Pool, according to the New York Post.
“We’re going to have to have our drivers pay close attention, and we have some really tight turns as we navigate this course,” Duffy said. “But it is the skill of the driver that’s going to win this Sunday.”
Duffy said he plans to wave the checkered flag as the race concludes.
Organizers expect as many as 140,000 spectators to attend. Trump is scheduled to travel around the track before the main event begins at 1:10 p.m. ET Sunday.
“Everyone who comes will be able to see the president and the beast before they actually see the race start,” Duffy said.
Practice and qualifying sessions are scheduled for Saturday.
Spectators can attend along the course’s outer perimeter for free, while luxury suites have reportedly been offered for prices reaching $200,000.
The event is estimated to cost approximately $35 million, with Penske and other corporate sponsors helping fund it.
Duffy also predicted that the race would provide an economic boost for Washington during a time of year when the city is typically quieter.
“This city is going to be packed for the next three days,” he said. “Hotels are going to be full, restaurants are full. It is going to be a great economic driver for Washington, DC.”
Trump authorized the Freedom 250 Grand Prix through an executive order in January as part of celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary.
