Updated Jan. 30, 2026, 12:49 p.m. ET
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to hold an IndyCar race in Washington, D.C. this year.
Talks of a race occurring in D.C. heightened last week, when the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it was pursuing having the race as part of a celebration for the country’s 250th birthday. Trump then posted an AI-generated video of an IndyCar race to his Truth Social account, which crystallized that holding the race was a priority for the administration.
“We’re celebrating greatness with American motor racing,” Trump said during a news conference Friday from the oval office.
One guardrail to holding the race was allowing IndyCar, whose cars have sponsorships, to advertise on Capitol grounds. Advertising on Capitol grounds is illegal and Congress would have had to pass a bill to allow it for an IndyCar race. The executive order does not require approval from Congress, NBC News reported.
The race, titled the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, will be held the weekend of Aug. 21-23 in the National Mall. There is a break in the IndyCar schedule between the Grand Prix of Markham on Aug. 16 and the Milwaukee doubleheader Aug. 29-30 that would allow for the race to happen on that weekend.
Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation, was present for Trump’s signing of the executive order. Penske Entertainment Corp., a subsidiary of Penske Corporation, owns 67% of IndyCar.
“This is a really amazing time for us in the company to support the 250th anniversary for the country,” Penske said while standing behind Trump. “And there’s no better way for us to bring automotive and speed into the D.C. area, and to have the opportunity to be able to compete here with our Indy cars, as you know we own the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and to take that history of over 100 years and the speed and what’s taken place there with different manufacturers and bringing it here to this race will be amazing.”
Penske and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy went on to announce that the race will be free to attend for spectators.
The race will be broadcast on Fox, as all IndyCar races are. Fox purchased a one-third stake in IndyCar from Penske Entertainment in July.
“Big shoutout to Secretary Duffy,” Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks said. “This project was kinda on life support until you stepped in recently and got us here today. … It’s a real honor to be a partner with Roger and IndyCar. At Fox Sports, we do the biggest events … To be able to celebrate America’s birthday on Fox is an absolute incredible honor. Everyone at Fox Sports can’t wait to see how this is going to unfold and bring it to life.”
The IndyCar season begins March 1 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. There are 17 races on the calendar, and it’s unclear if a race would be removed or if the America250 Grand Prix would be added as an 18th race.
Penske was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Trump in 2019.
In April 2025, Penske and his NASCAR and IndyCar team members visited Trump at the White House, where Penske said Trump had “an open invitation” to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Trump did not go to IMS for the Indy 500, after previously attending the Daytona 500.
He now will get his IndyCar fix brought to him.
This story was updated with new information.
IndyStar staff writer Nathan Brown contributed to this report.
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at@z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter.
