While few things are certain in motorsports, hosting a one‑of‑a‑kind INDYCAR street race in the heart of Washington, D.C., virtually guarantees extraordinary and striking vistas.
For the Sunday Freedom 250, the 1.7‑mile circuit wound through the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol on one side and the Washington Monument on the other. The course also looped around the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, the Air and Space Museum, and numerous other museums and government buildings, offering teams and fans unmatched visual backdrops.
Drivers such as Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal soaked up the surroundings, and for many it marked their first visit to the U.S. capital. The Freedom 250 produced striking images of the cars set against some of the country’s most iconic landmarks.
Below is a selection of the best photographs from Sunday’s Freedom 250.
Cars on the track ahead of the INDYCAR Freedom 250. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Alex Palou’s car on the track in front of the U.S. Capitol. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Rinus VeeKay and Mick Schumacher prior to the INDYCAR Freedom 250. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Scott McLaughlin racing in the Freedom 250 in front of the National Archives. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
An aerial view of the Freedom 250 course. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
General view of the U.S. Capitol from the Freedom 250 course. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Pato O’Ward’s car before the Freedom 250. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
David Malukas and Marcus Armstrong during driver introductions ahead of the Freedom 250. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Caio Collet during the Freedom 250. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexander Rossi’s car on the Freedom 250 course. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Alex Palou before the Freedom 250. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Pato O’Ward races in the Freedom 250 in front of the National Archives. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
An aerial view of the Freedom 250 course. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Josef Newgarden’s Team Penske crew works on his car on the Freedom 250 pit road. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Cars on the Freedom 250 track. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Alex Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing team before the Freedom 250. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
U.S. Capitol from the stands at the Freedom 250. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
National Archives from the Freedom 250 track. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
“Thomas Jefferson” and “Abraham Lincoln” at the Freedom 250. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
Nolan Siegel in front of the National Archives during the Freedom 250. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
Cars on the Freedom 250 course. (Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
MORE FREEDOM 250
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., featured a memorable flyover on Sunday.