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Freedom 250 kicks off
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took a ceremonial lap in his presidential limousine, “The Beast,” ahead of the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.
“"Just that everyone’s safe and they have a good time,"”
Trump was scheduled to wave the green flag to start the race, which was set to begin at 1 p.m. ET, with the 1.7-mile track running 147 laps near the U.S. Capitol and around the National Mall.
Fox News reported that Trump told FOX Sports' Jamie Little, "Just that everyone’s safe and they have a good time," as he spoke to drivers before getting back into the Beast.
The Associated Press said Trump and his wife would lead a traditional prerace kickoff in “The Beast,” with the open-wheel race featuring cars whizzing past Washington’s monuments at speeds approaching 200 mph.
AFP, via RFI, said Trump rode the ceremonial lap and waved the green flag to start Sunday's IndyCar race through the streets of Washington, capping celebrations of America's 250th birthday.
Speed, crowds, and logistics
Organizers and broadcasters described the Freedom 250 as a street race through Washington’s landmarks, with AFP saying open-wheel cars roared past iconic landmarks at speeds up to 185 mph (298 km/h).
The BBC said the 25 professional drivers faced 147 laps featuring seven crucial turns, making a total 250-mile course, and that some of the world's fastest drivers zoomed past the capital's famous monuments and museums at speeds of up to 190mph (306kmh).
The BBC also reported that organizers said about 140,000 people are expected to attend, with many given free general admission tickets through a lottery, while premium packages sold for $5,000 for a pair of passes.
ABC News said the main straightaways will be Pennsylvania Avenue and Independence Avenue, where drivers will rev their race cars to speeds more than seven times faster than the normal limit of 25 mph.
ABC News added that organizers said they resurfaced the roadways being used for the track and welded more than 200 manhole covers shut to prevent them from flying off during the race.
Controversy and what’s at stake
The Freedom 250 has drawn criticism tied to historic preservation concerns, with ABC News saying a preservationist group raised concerns that vibrations from the race could damage priceless frescoes at one of the historic buildings in the race course.
“"It has become clear to us that this event would include substantial potential"”
ABC News quoted Mary Okin, assistant director of the Living New Deal, saying her group is particularly worried that vibrations from the race cars will damage the historic frescoes at the entrance of the Wilbur J. Cohen Building.
In a letter described by ABC News, Okin wrote, "It has become clear to us that this event would include substantial potential for adverse effects due to vibratory impacts likely with sound waves in excess of 130 dB [decibels] during the race," to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
The BBC said Washington DC has the lowest speed limit in the United States at a maximum speed limit of 55mph (89kmh), but on Sunday drivers reached speeds of up to 190mph (306kmh).
CNN reported that the event’s impact extends beyond attendance, with officials planning extensive traffic and parking restrictions throughout the city and the Federal Aviation Administration announcing it will pause flights out of Ronald Reagan National Airport from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday.