Kirkwood wins Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington

Kyle Kirkwood won the debut Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday, taking IndyCar racing past some of Washington’s best-known landmarks in a high-speed spectacle tied to celebrations of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The Florida native, who drives for Andretti Global, started second but seized the lead on the opening lap with a move around the outside of pole-sitter and championship leader Alex Palou in front of the National Archives. Kirkwood led from there and took the checkered flag after 147 laps on a seven-turn street course through the center of the capital.

“You can’t even put it in words. This is incredible,” Kirkwood said after the race. “Man, that was a hard race. 147 laps. I’m out of breath right now.”

The 250-mile race sent open-wheel cars down Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House, the longest straight on the track, and past the D.C. courthouse, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Mall. Drivers reached top speeds of about 180 mph during the weekend, NBC News reported. Al Jazeera reported that drivers tested cars at up to 298 kph, or 185 mph, on the 1.7-mile course.

President Donald Trump waved the green flag to begin the race, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy waved the checkered flag at the finish. Trump, who worked with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to launch the event in January, also took a pre-race “lap of honor” in the armored presidential limousine known as “The Beast.” An Air Force One flyover was part of the preshow, which included seven waves of military flyovers and ended with aircraft from all six military branches, with a B-2 bomber as the centerpiece.

Trump promoted the event at the White House with IndyCar drivers and officials and posed on the grid with first lady Melania Trump and several racers. After Congress was expected to reject an initial route around the Capitol because of advertising restrictions on the grounds, Trump issued an executive order approving a modified course.

“We were going around the Capitol, but this turned out to be a better track — and so now we see the Capitol,” Trump told Fox Sports. “You see it right behind you. And I want everyone to be safe, and I want the people to have a good time.”

The weekend included two practice sessions Saturday, qualifying later that day and a Sunday warmup before the Grand Prix. Palou, who has six wins this season, took his seventh pole position of the campaign with a qualifying lap of 56.899 seconds after posting the fastest practice time of 56.614 seconds, Al Jazeera reported.

But Palou’s race unraveled after David Malukas crashed on Lap 37, bringing out a caution and prompting most of the field to pit for fresh tires. Palou received a drive-through penalty for a pit stop infringement, then later hit the wall and broke his front wing, dropping to the back.

Before the race, Malukas told NBC News the setting could challenge drivers’ focus. “I think out of any track we’ve been to, this is the most distracting, especially coming out from that back straightaway. They’re leading into the Capitol building,” he said.

Bowser estimated attendance at 140,000 for each day of the weekend. Organizers had expected up to 100,000 people to attend, according to Al Jazeera. The event drew major corporate sponsors, including Boeing, Starlink, Delta, Amazon and Shell.

The race also disrupted the city. Road closures shut down busy streets, backed up traffic and forced some businesses to close. The federal courthouse canceled all hearings Friday, and flights in and out of Washington National Airport were paused for several hours for the flyovers.

Fans lined Pennsylvania Avenue, some wearing local sports gear and others in racing merchandise. “I love the racing. I love the cars,” said Luis Chavez of Maryland, who attended in a Pato O’Ward Arrow McLaren IndyCar shirt.

With three races left in the season, Palou still leads the championship standings and remains favored to win his fifth title. Kirkwood cut into his lead in Washington but remains a distant second. IndyCar has no plans to return to Washington for another race, even as officials have discussed the possibility of making it an annual event.