Trump plans IndyCar race through heart of Washington at 190 mph

An IndyCar race marking the 250th anniversary of American independence — the Freedom 250 Grand Prix — will be held in the heart of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 22-23 (local time).

President Donald Trump announced the schedule at a preview demonstration at the White House on Monday (local time), saying it would be "an unprecedented event in our nation's capital" and "a great showcase of American patriotism, incredible horsepower and ingenuity." He added that cars would race down Pennsylvania Avenue at speeds exceeding 190 miles per hour — about 306 kilometers per hour — and promised it would be "a spectacle long remembered" and "a once-in-a-lifetime event."

Pennsylvania Avenue is Washington's most iconic boulevard, connecting the White House to the US Capitol. It serves as the symbolic stage for landmark national events, including presidential inauguration parades.

Trump has hosted a series of sporting events at the White House this year to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. Last month, he held a UFC event there, and on Monday he boasted that the bout had drawn the highest viewership of any UFC event in history. He expressed confidence that the IndyCar race would similarly set a viewership record for its sport.

At Monday's event, drivers staged a pit-stop demonstration — swapping out a race car's tires — to give attendees a taste of what to expect at the IndyCar race.