President Donald Trump spent Monday afternoon, July 13, 2026, previewing INDYCAR vehicles that will compete in a groundbreaking race in Washington, D.C. scheduled for August 22-23. Standing outside the White House on Executive Avenue, Trump highlighted the event as an "awesome display of American patriotism and raw horsepower ingenuity."

The America 250 Grand Prix will feature INDYCAR racers reaching speeds over 190 miles per hour, with some vehicles capable of topping 200 mph. The race course is a 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit including a 0.4-mile front stretch along Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. According to race organizers, the picturesque route will also circle the National Mall.

Roger Penske reported that more than 250,000 people have signed up to attend the historic event, which marks the first time INDYCAR racers will compete in the nation's capital. Trump joked about the high speeds around the National Mall, saying that if such speeds were attempted during regular days, "people would be put in jail, perhaps for the rest of their lives."

The race is part of America's 250th celebration, boosted by a two-week tribute to innovation from an iconic automaker. Trump was presented with an INDYCAR helmet by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy during the preview.

Sources