The president and the first lady were in the Beast as the motorcade was making its way around the track before the green flag dropped.IndyCar fans greeted the president's motorcade with cheers as he took the lap.The president was expected to wave the green flag to get the race started.ZERO BS.
JUST DAKICH.TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.
DOWNLOAD NOW!U.S.President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar series race in Washington, D.C., on Aug.
23, 2026.(REUTERS/Evan Vucci)President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (L) greet drivers and team members as they arrive for the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC on Aug.
23, 2026.(SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)He was seen talking to some of the drivers before he got back into the Beast.FOX Sports' Jamie Little asked the president what he was looking forward to the most as he took in his first IndyCar race."Just that everyone’s safe and they have a good time," Trump said.
"I want everyone to be safe.I want everyone to have a good time."He also said he told the drivers, "Good luck, have fun."It’s been a full weekend of racing as IndyCar and the International Race of Champions (IROC) series came into town.
The events were held in D.C.as part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.The race is set to begin at 1 p.m.
ET.The 1.7-mile track will have drivers zooming near the U.S.
Capitol and around the National Mall for 147 laps in what is expected to be one of the best spectacles in racing.Álex Palou was on the pole for the race.He was leading the IndyCar series standings after putting up six wins during the 2026 season.
He’s 133 points ahead of Kyle Kirkwood and 137 points ahead of David Malukas.SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST SPORTS NEWSFinal preparations continue in Washington, D.C., on Aug.20, 2026, for the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a two-day NTT IndyCar Series street race scheduled for Aug.
22-23 along a course passin...