Trump Takes Lap In ‘The Beast’ At IndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix

August 23, 2026 4:36 PM ET President Donald Trump climbed into the armored presidential limousine and circled a racetrack wrapped around the nation’s capital to launch the first IndyCar event ever staged in Washington.Trump piloted a ceremonial lap in “the Beast” around the 1.7-mile street course near the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, opening the Freedom 250 Grand Prix as the closing showpiece of the city’s summer celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, according to the New York Post. Air Force One passed above the track during the run, following earlier military flyovers that featured a B-2 bomber. First lady Melania Trump joined the president afterward to wave the green flag.Two Medal of Honor recipients, Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Williams and Col. Paris Davis, handed Trump the flag before the