IndyCar's Freedom 250 Grand Prix spectacle in Washington, DC draws massive TV ratings

IndyCar's Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC, attracted 3.282 million viewers, making it the most-watched non-Indy 500 race since 2008.

The street race around the National Mall in the nation's capital averaged over 3.2 million viewers, a massive number for the circuit.

FOX Sports averaged 3.282 million viewers for IndyCar's Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington D.C. this past weekend. The viewership peaked between 2:30 and 2:45pm EST with 3.482 million viewers. These numbers come from Nielsen Media Research. Those numbers make it the highest-viewed non-Indy 500 IndyCar

Seven military flyovers representing every U.S. service branch kicked off the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. The lineup included the Qatari-gifted Air Force One, the “bomber trio”, B-2 Spirit, B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress, and multiple stealth and fighter jets. Cars were roaring through the 1.7-mile

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An IndyCar veteran taught Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) a lesson when the lawmaker criticized President Donald Trump and the historic Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday in Washington, DC.

Fun won out at Freedom 250 as IndyCar took over streets of Washington  ESPN

Trump’s Grand Prix Race Was A Spectacle But Just How Tone-Deaf Was It?  Forbes

The U.S. Space Force Honor Guard donned the updated ceremonial service dress uniform on Sunday during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix event in Washington, D.C.

Here are some of the sights from the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

The president emphatically started the IndyCar race on Sunday.

"Looks like Trump and Melania were arguing over something," a social media user wrote after the couple's rare appearance together.

Craig Munro | Senior Politics Reporter Published August 24, 2026 10:42am Updated August 24, 2026 10:42am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Freedom 250 IndyCar race around the streets of Washington DC on Saturday appeared almost scientifica

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump began the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar race through the streets of Washington, D.C, with a slow lap around the course.

Natalie Harp, Trump’s executive assistant, was in the president’s spectator box along with first lady Melania Trump

Kyle Kirwood won the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday after he led for most of the race in downtown Washington, DC.

Kyle Kirkwood wins IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix  CNN

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

Trump and Melania take ‘Lap of Honor’ in The Beast before Freedom 250 Grand Prix  MARCA

Race cars take over central Washington, DC, as the Trump-created Freedom 250 Grand Prix debuts.

Donald Trump has waved the green flag to start the IndyCar 250 Grand Prix around Washington DC.

Donald Trump has waved the green flag to start the IndyCar 250 Grand Prix around Washington DC.

'Make Freedom Roar': Trump Waves The Green Flag, Does Honorary Lap Before D.C. Grand Prix  HuffPost

Trump takes a lap in 'the Beast' at Freedom 250 Grand Prix, waves green flag  USA Today

President Donald Trump, sitting in his presidential limousine, took a lap around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix racetrack in Washington, D.C., ahead of the main event on Sunday. Trump arrived at the district’s first-ever IndyCar street race with first lady Melania Trump and others. DC INDYCAR RACE SHOULD BE AN ANNUAL EVENT

Race cars roared across Washington city streets in the shadow of iconic landmarks as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, created by President Donald Trump, began with practice and qualifying.

Crowds pack Washington DC for Freedom 250 Grand Prix  Reuters

Ride Shotgun in a Corvette on D.C.’s Freedom 250 IndyCar Track  WSJ

Dua Lipa looked effortlessly chic as she carried her huge £6,000 Chanel bucket bag in New York City on Friday.

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Two motorcycle riders killed in qualifying for the Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man  Toronto Star

A slice of Washington, D.C., will be transformed into an IndyCar race track this weekend for an event commemorating the U.S.'s 250th birthday.