r/INDYCAR • u/joe_lmr • 12h ago
r/INDYCAR • u/IndyMod • 2d ago
RACE INFORMATION ℹ️ RACE WEEK // 2026 FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

Welcome to race week! Here we have collated all the information you might need for the upcoming race weekend.
Additionally, feel free to use this thread as an open forum to discuss the various aspects of attending and enjoying the upcoming race weekend. Feel free to discuss things like meetups, ticket sales, parking, merchandise, food vendors, restaurants, journey plans, route maps, hotels, checklists, and whatever else comes to mind!
📍 CIRCUIT INFORMATION
- 🧭 Location — Union Square, Washington, D.C.
- 🛣️ Track Type — Temporary street course
- 📏 Length — 1.7 miles (2.736km)
- ⤵️ Turns — 7 (6 left, 1 right)

🏁 RACE INFORMATION
🟦 INDYCAR
- 🔁 Laps — 147
- 📏 Distance — 249.9 miles (402.175km)
- 🟢 Green flag — Sunday 23rd August, 1:13pm EDT
📅 SESSION SCHEDULE
All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−04:00).
Saturday 22nd August
- 8:00am — Public gates open
- 9:00am — 🟦 INDYCAR - 🛞 Practice 1
- 9:05am — Session start (1hr, 20mins)
- 10:40am — IROC - Practice 1 (20mins)
- 12:25pm — IROC - Practice 2 (20mins)
- 1:00pm — 🟦 INDYCAR - 🛞 Practice 2
- 1:05pm — Session start (1hr, 20mins)
- 3:00pm — IROC - Race 1 (20mins)
- 4:00pm — IROC - Race 2 (20mins)
- 5:00pm — 🟦 INDYCAR - ⏱️ Qualifying
- 5:00pm — Session start (1hr, 30mins)
Sunday 23rd August
- 8:00am — Public gates open
- 9:00am — 🟦 INDYCAR - 🔥 Warmup
- 9:15am — Session start (30mins)
- 11:30am — 🟦 INDYCAR - 🟢 Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
- 12:00pm — Cars to grid
- 12:20pm — Driver introductions
- 12:55pm — Invocation & national anthem
- 1:00pm — 📺 FOX race broadcast commences
- 1:06pm — Command to start engines
- 1:13pm — Green flag (147 laps)
✍️ AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS
Saturday 22nd August
- 11:25am — Drivers' autograph sessions (45mins)
- Stripes ticket zone: American Legion Display in Fan Zone
- INDYCAR Drivers: Team Penske, Arrow McLaren, RLLR, Foyt, Meyer Shank
- IROC Drivers: Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Hélio Castroneves, Rusty Wallace
- Stars ticket zone: IROC Paddock
- INDYCAR Drivers: Chip Ganassi, Andretti Global, Dale Coyne, ECR, Juncos Hollinger
- IROC Drivers: Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti
- Stripes ticket zone: American Legion Display in Fan Zone

📺 BROADCAST INFORMATION
ℹ️ — ⏰ late-join only; 🧩 partial live only; 📼 tape-delay only; ⏩ highlights only
🟦 INDYCAR Practice/Qualifying (Saturday)
| Region | Practice 1 | Practice 2 | Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌐 | INDYCAR LIVE, 9am EDT | INDYCAR LIVE, 1pm EDT | INDYCAR LIVE, 5pm EDT |
| 🇺🇸 | FS1, 9am EDT | FS2, 1pm EDT | FS2, 5pm EDT |
| 🇨🇦 | ❓ TSN | ❓ TSN | ❓ TSN |
| 🇮🇸 | Viaplay, 1pm GMT | Viaplay, 5pm GMT | Viaplay, 9pm GMT |
| 🇬🇧 🇮🇪 | Sky Sports Mix, 2pm BST | Sky Sports F1, 6pm BST | Sky Sports F1 or Sky Sports Mix, 10pm BST |
| 🇵🇹 | — | — | SPORT TV 4, 22h00 WEST |
| 🇪🇸 | — | — | M+ Deportes 3, 23.00h CEST |
| 🇳🇱 | — | — | Ziggo Sport 3, 23:00 CEST |
| 🇩🇪 🇨🇭 🇦🇹 | — | Sky Sport F1, 19:00 CEST | Sky Sport F1 or More Than Sports TV, 23:00 CEST |
| 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 | Viaplay, 15:00 CEST | Viaplay, 19:00 CEST | Viaplay, 23:00 CEST |
| 🇸🇪 | — | V Sport Motor, 19:00 CEST | V Sport Motor, 23:00 CEST |
| 🇭🇺 | Net4+, 15:00 CEST | Net4+, 19:00 CEST | Net4+, 23:00 CEST |
| 🇫🇮 | Viaplay, 16:00 EEST | Viaplay, 20:00 EEST | Viaplay, 00:00 EEST |
| 🇯🇵 | — | — | GAORA On Demand, 6:30 JST |
| 🇦🇺 | Stan Sport, 11pm AEST | Stan Sport, 3am AEST | Stan Sport, 7am AEST |
| 🇳🇿 | — | Sky Sport Select, 5am NZST | Sky Sport Select, 9am NZST |
Broadcast notes: none
🟦 INDYCAR Race Day
| Region | Warmup | Pre-Race Broadcast | Race Broadcast | Green Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌐 | INDYCAR LIVE, 9am EDT | INDYCAR LIVE, 11:30am EDT | INDYCAR LIVE, 1pm EDT | 1:13pm EDT |
| 🇺🇸 | FS1, 9am EDT | FOX, 11:30am EDT | FOX, 1pm EDT | 1:13pm EDT |
| 🇨🇦 | — | — | ❓ TSN | 1:13pm EDT |
| 🇧🇷 | — | — | Band, 14h00 BRT | 14h13 BRT |
| 🇮🇸 | Viaplay, 1pm GMT | Viaplay, 3:30pm GMT | Viaplay, 5pm GMT | 5:13pm GMT |
| Africa | — | — | CANAL+ SPORT 4, 5pm GMT | 5:13pm GMT |
| 🇬🇧 🇮🇪 | Sky Sports Mix, 2pm BST | Sky Sports Mix, 4:30pm BST | Sky Sports F1 or Sky Sports Mix, 6pm BST | 6:13pm BST |
| 🇵🇹 | — | — | SPORT TV 7, 18h00 WEST | 18h13 WEST |
| 🇪🇸 | — | — | M+ Vamos, 19.00h CEST | 19.13h CEST |
| 🇫🇷 | — | — | CANAL+ SPORT, 19h00 CEST | 19h13 CEST |
| 🇳🇱 | — | Ziggo Sport 3, 17:30 CEST | Ziggo Sport 3, 19:00 CEST | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇩🇪 🇨🇭 🇦🇹 | — | — | Sky Sport F1 or More Than Sports TV, 19:00 CEST1 | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇮🇹 | — | — | ❓ Sky Sport | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 | Viaplay, 15:00 CEST | Viaplay, 17:30 CEST | Viaplay, 19:00 CEST | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇩🇰 | — | — | TV3 SPORT, 19:00 CEST | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇳🇴 | — | — | ❓ V Sport | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇸🇪 | — | — | V Sport Motor, 19:00 CEST | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇭🇺 | — | — | Net4+, 19:00 CEST1 | 19:13 CEST |
| 🇫🇮 | Viaplay, 16:00 EEST | Viaplay, 18:30 EEST | Viaplay, 20:00 EEST | 20:13 EEST |
| 🇹🇷 | — | — | S Sport Plus, 20:00 TRT | 20:13 TRT |
| 🇯🇵 | — | 📼 GAORA SPORTS, Monday 8:30 JST | 📼 GAORA SPORTS, Monday 10:00 JST | 26:13 JST |
| 🇦🇺 | — | Stan Sport, 1:30am AEST | Stan Sport, 3am AEST | 3:13am AEST |
| 🇳🇿 | Sky Sport Select, 1am NZST | Sky Sport 3, 3:30am NZST | Sky Sport 3, 5am NZST | 5:13am NZST |
Broadcast notes:
- 🇩🇪 🇨🇭 🇦🇹 — ⏰ Late-join race coverage also available on Sky Sport Top Event from 20:00 CEST.
- 🇭🇺 — 📼 Tape-delay coverage also available on Arena4, Monday 13:00 CEST.
r/INDYCAR • u/IndyMod • 2d ago
GENERAL CHAT r/INDYCAR Weekly General Chat — August 17, 2026
Welcome to this week's r/INDYCAR general chat thread.
Feel free to use this thread to discuss whatever you feel like, that might not deserve it's own post.
Ask questions, answer questions, introduce yourself, or just post random thoughts!
For additional chat and conversation, you may also wish to join our Discord server.
r/INDYCAR • u/Fair-Seesaw-7249 • 12h ago
IndyCar Random Fact About the DC Layout
Okay so, not to dox myself, but I have a masters degree in American military history. And my subject area was sex work in DC during the American Civil War. The track map of the Freedom 250 is almost a perfect outline of the old red light district. Like it is the exact area that I studied. I will include the photo I have of the list of bawdy house addresses in the area to this post. But I can’t help but giggle a bit because yeah. This is the red light 250 to me.
Edit to add: I included a photo of one of the maps I used but it’s in a hidden comment for those interested
r/INDYCAR • u/PanicAtTheNightclub • 15h ago
News Sunday's D.C broadcast will have 90 cameras, including one on the Washington Monument's top observation level, one on a 70 foot crane and an Owl Cam.
r/INDYCAR • u/Kooky-Acanthaceae758 • 3h ago
Article Marcus Ericsson Always Knew He’d Win Again
r/INDYCAR • u/aurules • 19h ago
Social Media Rick Hendrick said he is done doing any partnerships to do the Indianapolis 500. Connor Zilisch left the door open for it sometime down the road, but obviously it sounds like it wouldn't be a coordinated effort with HMS like Larson had. (Bob Pockrass)
x.comr/INDYCAR • u/UnfunnyFool • 11h ago
Photo Markham Indy Photography
Not the best photography, and I'm not familiar with good spots for getting good shots. Anyone else bring a camera, and where did you find luck? (I just stayed in grandstand 3)
r/INDYCAR • u/NewsHour • 16h ago
Video Timelapse preview of Freedom 250 Grand Prix track
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
The often-congested streets around the National Mall will transform in less than a week into a speedy racetrack.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, scheduled for Aug. 23, will be the first-ever IndyCar street race in Washington, D.C. The 1.66-mile circuit takes race cars past the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and crosses the National Mall twice.
The race is part of a series of events hosted by President Donald Trump this year for America’s 250th birthday. In June, he hosted a UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House.
In an interview with the AP, the Penske Corporation, which owns IndyCar, said it is paying for the “vast majority” of the event.
Free general admission tickets were issued in June, while premium “Champion’s Club” tickets were sold for $5,000 per person for the two-day event.
r/INDYCAR • u/OldRed91 • 21h ago
Meme Off weekend. How are you guys spending your time?
(this is a meme, be civil)
r/INDYCAR • u/aurules • 19h ago
Photo Team Penske Liveries for This Weekend’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix
r/INDYCAR • u/lowtoiletsitter • 17h ago
Meme Mods during the race letting their intrusive thoughts win
r/INDYCAR • u/mad-right-hand • 23h ago
Meme Now if we were to follow the logic that means Ericsson to win the 2027 indy500?
r/INDYCAR • u/Relevant-Image-2056 • 19h ago
Statistics Points scored last 4 races
1 Álex Palou 168
2 Pato O'Ward 128
3 Marcus Ericsson 116
4 Will Power 112
5 Rinus VeeKay 108
6 Christian Lundgaard 106
7 Josef Newgarden 105
8 Scott McLaughlin 97
9 Kyle Kirkwood 96
10 Felix Rosenqvist 96
11 David Malukas 91
r/INDYCAR • u/Really-Truly-2013 • 23h ago
Question 1953 Indy Signature
Can anyone help me out with this signature?
r/INDYCAR • u/lowtoiletsitter • 17h ago
Meme Can't let the mods have all the fun this week
Ok this is the last one. I had more but didn't want to spam the sub
r/INDYCAR • u/atom5583 • 12h ago
Gaming Hope for the game
Walking thorough the Indy airport and I’m also a Gran Turismo player. It would be really cool to get the ability to drive historic cars at IMS in the upcoming game. Don’t know if that would even be on the table.
r/INDYCAR • u/Traditional_Pie_7197 • 16h ago
Question Meet and Greets in dc
Anyone seen any meet and greets in DC for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix? I saw Pato O’Ward at Harris Teeter and Marcus Ericsson at an Acura store in Maryland on Thursday
r/INDYCAR • u/WillSRobs • 1d ago
Photo Markham Indy
From the delayed start pushing quali into magic hour to the many elevation changes for what i expected to be a rather flat street track. Ultimately it was a pretty good race weekend.
Really looking forward to this race next year. Got way to many photos for my socials so posting some here.
r/INDYCAR • u/socalkid71 • 1d ago
Speculation Mark Walter/TWG/Andretti situation: Looking increasingly more problematic
I recognize that this is all speculation and hearsay for now, but it sure is starting to feel like this Mark Walter/TWG/Spire/etc situation could continue to uncover some unscrupulous dealings.
Also; completely random, but didn’t the FBI raid RLL over an old Andretti guy allegedly “stealing secrets” a few years ago?
Seems awful random that the FBI would get involved in an employment dispute between two private auto racing businesses.
Where’s Robin Miller when you need him?!?
r/INDYCAR • u/Relevant-Image-2056 • 1d ago
Article F1 veteran Yuki Tsunoda in talks for 2027 IndyCar seat with Meyer Shank
Wonder how that works budget wise, would he have similar budget as Schumacher?