INDYCAR’s Freedom 250 is one of the biggest spectacles in sports, and the pre-race celebrations were capped in an eye-catching way.
All seven branches of the United States military were represented in a flyover ahead of the green flag, which was waved by President Donald Trump.
“It turned out to be much bigger than we ever even thought possible,” President Trump told our Jamie Little of how the race ended up coming together.
Every flyover was orchestrated to go over Turn 7 toward Turn 1, going from south to north. It capped a festive set of pre-race ceremonies before Alex Palou led the field on the pole for the race on INDYCAR’s most memorable track ever.
The Beast with U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, while a military flyover takes place on the track of the NTT INDYCAR Series on August 23, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
President Trump waved the green flag, getting the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., started on Sunday. Palou and Kyle Kirkwood were in Row 1 and led the field, with the Spanish star on the pole.
“It turned out to be much bigger than we ever even thought possible,” President Trump said. “They actually closed the bridges. So many people want to come.”
President Trump praised Roger Penske for his involvement in making this race happen, noting Penske has tried multiple times to make a race around D.C. happen before.
“Roger’s been a friend of mine for a long time, and there’s nobody like him,” President Trump said.
US President Donald Trump waves the green flag to start the race with First Lady Melania Trump at his side, during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington, D.C. (Doug MILLS / POOL / AFP)
It was the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Air Force One that had their planes fly over the track. It was a memorable moment as INDYCAR staged one of the biggest celebrations of the United States possible in Washington, D.C.
