IndyCar and Penske Entertainment are extending the celebration of the 250th Birthday of the United States by making the August 23 Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC a 250-mile street race.
It has extended the race distance to 147 laps, a very long event by street race standards, so that the miles covered will be 250 to honor America’s 250th birthday.
The celebration of America’s 250th birthday will come with even more racing and strategy, as the race is extended from 125 laps to 147 laps to create a true 250-mile race in just a few weeks on the streets of the nation’s capital.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will officially live up to its name on Sunday, August 23, as drivers will compete on the 1.7-mile, seven-turn street circuit winding through the historic streets of Washington, D.C., past some of the country’s most iconic landmarks and around the National Mall.
New 250-Mile Distance Adds More Strategy To Freedom 250 Grand Prix
The extended lap count will add nearly 18 percent more NTT IndyCar Series racing action to the once-in-a-lifetime race, while introducing a new strategic challenge for teams and drivers. The now 250-mile race is expected to require an additional pit stop compared to the original race distance, creating more opportunities for varying fuel strategies, decisions on management for each car’s Firestone racing tires and passing opportunities throughout the talented IndyCar field.
“With America celebrating 250 years of freedom and innovation in 2026, it is only fitting that the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will be a true 250-mile race,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. “The additional laps will create even more opportunities for strategy, on-track action and late-race drama while giving our fans extra value and even more opportunities to enjoy this historic event.”
FOX Showcases The Freedom 250 Grand Prix In A Big Way
The added race distance also provides additional live content for FOX, IndyCar’s exclusive television partner, which will broadcast the Freedom 250 Grand Prix nationally from Washington, D.C. The 250-mile length will extend the race broadcast window, providing additional storytelling opportunities and strategies for FOX to chronicle throughout the course of the afternoon.
FOX has already announced an extended Freedom 250 Grand Prix pre-race show, with coverage from Washington D.C. scheduled to begin at 11:30 am ET on Sunday, Aug. 23 and the green flag set to wave shortly after 1:00 pm ET.
Set against the backdrop of iconic American landmarks, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will mark the first-ever NTT IndyCar Series race held on the streets of Washington, D.C.
The free, two-day motorsports festival will serve as a centerpiece of the nation’s semi-quincentennial celebration, bringing world-class racing to the heart of the nation’s capital. The 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit will feature a sweeping run down Pennsylvania Avenue and past several of Washington’s most recognizable historic sites.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., will take place Aug. 22-23, 2026, marking the first‑ever NTT IndyCar Series race on the National Mall and the Washington D.C. city streets. The event will be administered by IndyCar in coordination with the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of the Interior and Washington, D.C.’s Executive Office of the Mayor.
The free, two-day motorsports event will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with world‑class racing set against the backdrop of some of America’s most historic landmarks, including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
