sports
Kyle Kirkwood wins Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar race in the streets of Washington, D.C., after Trump kicks off race
Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 7:10 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Kyle Kirkwood won the IndyCar Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C.
- President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump officially started the race.
- Alex Palou, who had a chance to clinch the series title, finished 20th after receiving penalties and experiencing issues.
- The race featured several crashes and cautions, including incidents involving David Malukas, Sting Ray Robb, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Armstrong, and Christian Rasmussen.
- The event was part of celebrations for America's 250th birthday, with ceremonial elements including a military flyover and a performance by Christopher Macchio.
- Roger Penske played a key role in bringing the IndyCar race to Washington.
- IndyCar is described as one of the world's leading open-wheel racing series, second only to Formula 1.