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Freedom 250 takes over DC
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is set to bring IndyCar racing to Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, with a Sunday 250-mile race scheduled to run 147 laps around a 1.7-mile route.
“This is a one-time only event, because we're celebrating the country's 250th one time”
Event chair Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, told NPR that the race is “This is a one-time only event, because we're celebrating the country's 250th one time,” as organizers plan a patriotic spectacle in the shadow of the Capitol building.
NPR reported the course will include cars zipping through 147 laps of a 1.7-mile route, and the race is slated to begin just after 1 p.m. ET and be broadcast live on Fox.
Fox 5 DC reported that President Donald Trump will ride around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix track in his motorcade before the race begins on Sunday, citing a White House official.
The Fox 5 DC preview also said the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will feature 24 drivers on a 1.7-mile, seven-turn street circuit, with drivers anticipating speeds of up to 180 miles per hour.
Drivers, officials, and delays
As road closures tightened around the Freedom 250 route, WTOP reported that a reporter walked along 14th Street from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue and found cars moving more slowly than the walking pace.
WTOP quoted Nancy Marlow of Virginia saying, “This is worse than cherry blossom,” and said she had been “out here over an hour” with a trip normally taking “20 minutes.”
D.C. Department of Transportation Director Sharon Kershbaum told WTOP that “Every day, especially Friday, is probably going to be even worse,” and urged anyone who needs to go downtown to use public transportation.
In a separate account of the event’s build-out, CNN said the race required extensive construction to allow open-wheel IndyCars to race safely at speeds of up to 180 mph, including walls and viewing areas along the track.
CNN also reported that Lindsey Appiah, the DC deputy mayor for public safety and justice, told CNN that returning the city to normal after the event will take until roughly the second week of September.
What’s at stake after race day
Beyond race-day logistics, CNN reported that the airspace above the capital will be impacted, with the Federal Aviation Administration saying it will temporarily pause flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday.
“temporarily pause flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday”
CNN also said the build-out of the track began at the end of July and that the two-month construction process in the heart of Washington promised to further disrupt commuters and residents.
Bud Denker told CNN that “some 49 manholes had to be reshaped and smoothed over with silicone,” and he praised DC roads for being an ideal track due to their asphalt.
CNN reported that the walls built for the event weigh 10,000 pounds and sit at 1 meter high, and that they will need to be taken down after race day.
For the event’s broader planning, NPR said Denker and Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks had the idea over a beer after a board meeting last year, and Denker said he held over 100 meetings on the Hill over a six-month period to secure congressional approval.