IndyCar's 180mph Dash Around Washington’s Freedom 250 Track

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:27:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A BBC test drive on the Freedom 250 Grand Prix shows IndyCar racing at 180 mph in the capital’s historic circuit.

BBC journalist Helena Humphrey pushes a test car around Washington DC’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix circuit, recorded ahead of the weekend’s races. With speeds pegged at 180 mph, the event marks America’s 250th anniversary and brings the first major auto race to the capital in over 24 years. The Liberty Park layout promises 140 000 spectators per day, turning the capital into a hub of high‑octane excitement.

IndyCar’s 180 mph Dash Around Washington’s Freedom 250 Track

On a bright August morning, BBC journalist Helena Humphrey took a test drive around Washington, DC’s newly set‑up Freedom 250 Grand Prix track. The IndyCar packet spills across the capital, promising a thrilling weekend of 180 mph racing as the 5‑mile circuit invites 140 000 fans per day.

The Freedom 250 is more than a race; it’s a belated celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. It is the first major auto race in the capital in over two decades, and the video shows the track’s tight turns, long straights and the zip‑line tunnel that has captured the imagination of locals.

The test drive captured the gleam of the cars through Washington’s historic streets, a reminder of the nation’s roaring‑20s heritage and a look forward to a new era of high‑performance, electric‑powered IndyCars slated for the future.

— BBC News, 21 August 2026