President hosts INDYCAR drivers at The White House ahead of Freedom 250 GP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted three NTT INDYCAR Series drivers Monday at The White House ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
The president hosted Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukas to preview the Aug. 22-23 race weekend on the streets of Washington, D.C.
Palou is the four-time, defending champion and current points leader. Rosenqvist won this year’s Indianapolis 500 ahead of Malukas.
Roger Penske, Freedom 250 GP chairman Bud Denker, FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks and General Motors president Mark Reuss also attended. Malukas’ pit crew also performed a live pit stop demonstration.
“Incredible day and one I’ll never forget,” Malukas said. “It was my first time getting to see the White House and truly see it, getting a special tour from the President. It was such a cool experience to do an INDYCAR pit stop for the first time at the White House. I think, for all the drivers, this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate America’s 250th and I can’t think of any other better way to do it than here in Washington D.C.”
The drivers participated in an evening reception where Shanks talked with them about competing in the Grand Prix.
The start-finish line will sit on 3rd Street before the drivers take the right turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue. Top speeds could reach upwards of 180 mph.
Pit road will sit at the beginning of the 0.4-mile Pennsylvania Avenue straight.
From there, the field will brake hard for turn two. A technical section will wind around the National Archives and National Gallery of Art, making up turns three and four.
The following right turn onto Seventh Street will carry the cars across the National Mall. The area of the National Mall within the track will be open and free for fans during the event.
The course continues with a left-hand turn onto Independence Avenue, passing in front of the Smithsonian before a subtle dogleg at turn six leads into the final corner and back on Third Street.
INDYCAR expects lap-times to average in the mid-50 second bracket.
The INDYCAR race is set for Sunday, Aug. 23, with an IROC race the day before. Jeff Gordon, Helio Castroneves and other NASCAR and INDYCAR stars will race in it.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com