:MOMENT
First Race on the Mall.
August 22 to 23, 2026
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:INFO
What Is the Freedom 250?
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., is the inaugural NTT IndyCar Series race held on the streets of the National Mall. It is also a one-time event: organisers have said it will never be repeated. Created by executive order signed by President Trump on January 30, 2026, the race is the centrepiece of the U.S. Semiquincentennial celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. General admission is free. Race day is Sunday, August 23, broadcast live on FOX.
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:STATS
[icon:CHART] Circuit length | 1.66 miles per lap
[icon:CHART] Turns | 7 (tight technical street layout)
[icon:TRENDING_UP] Race distance | 147 laps, 249.9 miles
[icon:FIRE] Main straight | 0.40 miles down Pennsylvania Avenue
[icon:CLOCK] Race day broadcast | Sunday Aug 23, FOX and FOX One
[icon:STAR] Round in 2026 IndyCar season | 15 of 18
[icon:TARGET] Admission | Free (general); limited paid grandstand seating also available
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:MAP
38.8937,-77.019,Start / Finish Line. Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Capitol. 0.40-mile main straight.
38.8927,-77.0152,Turn 1. Pit entry is just after Turn 1, between T1 and T2.
38.8895,-77.0145,Turn 3 to 4. Constitution Avenue. Smithsonian Air and Space Museum visible.
38.8877,-77.022,Turn 5. Independence Avenue SW. National Archives directly north.
38.8895,-77.027,Turn 6 to 7. 7th Street NW back toward the main straight.
38.8927,-77.0317,Washington Monument. Visible from the main straight, the centrepiece backdrop.
38.8921,-77.0071,U.S. Capitol Building. Start and finish set against the East Front plaza.
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:CHECKLIST
Race weekend schedule
[ ] - Saturday Aug 22, 09:00 to 10:30 ET: IndyCar Practice 1, live on FS1.
[ ] - Saturday Aug 22, 13:00 to 14:30 ET: IndyCar Practice 2, live on FS2.
[ ] - Saturday Aug 22, 17:00 to 18:30 ET: IndyCar Qualifying, live on FS2.
[ ] - Saturday Aug 22 afternoon: IROC Legends Exhibition. Gordon, Hinchcliffe, Castroneves.
[ ] - Sunday Aug 23, 11:30 ET: Pre-race show on FOX with Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick.
[ ] - Sunday Aug 23, 13:00 ET: Freedom 250 Grand Prix, 147 laps, live on FOX.
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:STATS
[icon:CHART] Championship leader | Alex Palou, 542 points
[icon:TRENDING_UP] P2 Kyle Kirkwood | 409 points, 133 behind Palou
[icon:USERS] P3 David Malukas | 405 points, 137 behind
[icon:CHART] P4 Christian Lundgaard | 403 points
[icon:FIRE] P5 Pato O'Ward | 385 points
[icon:STAR] Last winner | Marcus Ericsson, Streets of Markham Aug 16
[icon:TARGET] Palou clinches here only if | his lead grows to 163+ after this race
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:NOTE
The IROC Exhibition on Saturday brings legends back to the circuit. Former NASCAR Cup champions Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, and Bill Elliott race alongside IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 champions Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, and Dario Franchitti, all in identical 1996 to 2006 IROC Pontiac Firebirds. It is the first sanctioned IROC-format race since the series folded in 2006.
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:INFO
Why This Weekend Is Unique
No other race on the 2026 calendar uses anything like this circuit. Pennsylvania Avenue is the widest boulevard the field will race on all season, giving drivers a flat-out blast toward Turn 1 at the Capitol end. But the seven turns that follow are tight street-circuit bends: narrow exits, close barriers, concrete walls with no run-off. Teams will chase a setup that is fast in a straight line yet planted and nimble in the turns. The elevation change is minimal, but the surface shifts between smooth avenue blacktop and older patched side streets, adding tyre management complexity rare for an oval-tuned series.
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:QUOTE [quotetype:plain, subtitle:Bud Denker]
This is a one-time-only event, because we are celebrating the country's 250th one time. There will never be another Freedom 250.
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:NOTE
The circuit passes the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives, the U.S. Capitol East Front plaza, and runs directly in front of the Washington Monument. No racing circuit in North American motorsport history has been framed by as many landmarks in a single lap.
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:LINK
https://www.freedom250gp.com
Freedom 250 Grand Prix official site, schedule, tickets, and visitor information