01/30/26 01:30:00
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01/30 13:29 CST Trump announces upcoming IndyCar race through Washington's
streets -- including Pennsylvania Avenue
Trump announces upcoming IndyCar race through Washington's streets -- including
Pennsylvania Avenue
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) --- The streets of the nation's capital will host an IndyCar
race this summer as part of celebrations marking America's 250th birthday,
President Donald Trump announced Friday, relishing the prospect of vehicles
roaring past the White House at speeds approaching 200 mph.
Trump signed an executive order establishing the race on Aug. 23 alongside
Roger Penske, owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and teams in
multiple racing series including NASCAR.
"It's going to be so exciting," Trump said. "I love the racing. I don't have a
lot of time to watch it, but I love the racing."
Penske suggested there was "no better way for us to bring automotive and speed
into the D.C. area, and to be able to have the opportunity to compete here with
our IndyCars."
A news release from IndyCar said the route would include the National Mall, and
the executive order gives the Departments of Transportation and the Interior
two weeks to designate a route through Washington "that is suitable for
conducting an INDYCAR street race and that will showcase the majesty of our
capital city in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America's independence."
The order also directs city and other officials to work closely with race
organizers.
The event continues Trump's embrace of sports during his second term: Most of
his domestic travel has been built around attending major games and events ---
including the recent NCAA football national championship in Miami Gardens,
Florida.
The president has also been personally involved in promoting a UFC fight to
help mark America's 250th anniversary which he has said is set for June 14 on
the White House grounds --- a date that happens to be his 80th birthday.
But Trump isn't planning to attend the upcoming Super Bowl on Feb. 8 between
the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California,
suggesting it's too far to travel.
In IndyCar's case, the race is set to come to him.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who also attended Friday's signing
ceremony in the Oval Office, gushed: "To think, 190 miles an hour down
Pennsylvania Avenue. This is going to be wild."
Trump said he'd urged organizers to pick the best race route through
Washington's streets --- even if they were more complicated logistically.
"I said, pick the best site. It's very important," the president said. "Even if
it's more difficult to get, to get approved, pick the absolute best site."
Organizers said they'd long lobbied members of Congress to authorize a road
race in Washington, but had been previously unsuccessful. Duffy asked when the
last road race in the capital occurred and was told it was in 1801 and involved
horses during the administration of President Thomas Jefferson --- prompting
Trump to reply, "That's something."
"Now we're going to do a real race," said Duffy, who said the event would be
free for the public, declaring: "Freedom, America. Speed. And road racing. It
doesn't get more American than that."
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