IndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix Of Washington DC Is Off And Rolling

BusinessSportsMoneyIndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix Of Washington DC Is Off And RollingByBruce Martin,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I have been chasing race cars since the first Michigan 500 in 1981.Follow AuthorAug 22, 2026, 12:39pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryIndyCar has hit the streets of the National Mall to start practice and qualifying for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C. It's an emotional, historic event, marking the first major auto race around the National Mall to celebrate the USA's 250th birthday. Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, the driving force behind this "journey of a lifetime," was teary-eyed seeing the 1.7-mile street course, built in just three weeks, come alive. This monumental feat, achieved with FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks and D.C. partners, is hailed as a model for future events. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown underscored its immense value for IndyCar, predicting significant fan and sponsorship growth. This unique spectacle, likely a one-time occurrence, is a testament to American ingenuity.Show More Freedom 250 Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker (L) speaks with Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, (R) on the Freedom 250 Grand Prix track along the National Mall on August 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAs the President of the Penske Corporation, Bud Denker knows how to close some major business deals. But what he was able to see come to completion Saturday morning on the streets of Washington, D.C. literally made him teary eyed.As the green flag waved and the cars charged off pit lane, onto the 1.7-mile, seven-turn street course off pit lane, Denker, who is also the Chairman of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC, captured it on iPhone video while he was fighting back emotion.The Dri...