Trump hosts IndyCar drivers ahead of Freedom 250 Grand Prix
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump hosted three IndyCar drivers at the White House and watched a pit crew change tires in rapid speed as he touted the next marquee event he's hosting in the nation's capital: the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
IndyCar drivers Álex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukus joined Trump ‒ and brought their Indy cars with them ‒ as the president hailed a race he said will be "an awesome display of American patriotism, raw horsepower and ingenuity."
The free IndyCar race, set for Aug. 22 and 23 and expected to draw 250,000 spectators over the two days, will take place on Washington DC's downtown streets around the National Mall including Pennsylvania and Independence Avenues.
"This will be like no other race ever," Trump said, adding that it comes on the heels of the United Fighting Championship event he held on the White House grounds and Washington's record-breaking fireworks celebration on the Fourth of July. "It will be one of the most unforgettable racing events the world has ever seen."
Freedom 250, a Trump-aligned organization that produced the recent Great American State Fair, has partnered with IndyCar to put on the race. The window to get tickets for the race has closed.
"You're going to see cars at the level that they've never been at before, with cars racing more than 190 miles (an hour) and even higher than that down Pennsylvania Avenue," Trump said.
With Trump watching from outside the White House, a Team Penske crew performed a mock pitstop by changing four tires and refueling an Indy race car in about 6.5 seconds.
The president was also given an IndyCar helmet personalized with his name. Trump handed the three drivers "challenge coins" marking the upcoming race.
"We think about the Indy 500 as an iconic race, but this is going to move right up there next to it, as far as we're concerned, from the standpoint of the best in the world," said Roger Penske, owner of Team Penske, who attended the showcase at the White House.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said clearing hurdles to hold the race at the National Mall required numerous meetings at Capitol Hill. He accused "the other team," referring to Democratic lawmakers, of "creating problems" but credited Trump and Penske for making it happen.
"When you think about America 250, you also think about cars, and when you think about cars, you do think about freedom," Duffy said. "This all goes together."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump hosts IndyCar drivers ahead of Freedom 250 Grand Prix
Reporting by Joey Garrison, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 1:43 PM.