Trump To Attend Historic IndyCar Grand Prix On Washington's National Mall
FlatRigor 5311 sources
The Story
President Donald Trump is expected to kick off the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday by waving a green flag and taking a ceremonial lap in his presidential limousine, "The Beast." The two-day IndyCar event begins Saturday at 8 a.m. ET with practice and qualifying sessions. The main race on Sunday will feature 25 drivers completing 147 laps of a 1.7-mile circuit around Washington, D.C.'s National Mall, passing the Capitol, Washington Monument, and National Gallery of Art. Drivers will reach speeds of up to 170 miles per hour, covering a total race distance of approximately 250 miles. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expects 140,000 visitors per day for the race festivities. The event is part of this summer’s America 250 celebrations marking the country’s semiquincentennial, which have also included the Great American State Fair and a UFC cage match at the White House. The race required D.C. streets to be converted into a temporary circuit, costing more than $35 million, which IndyCar paid in full. Washington has drawn on a separate $90 million fund for security and emergency planning. Workers welded down over 200 manhole covers on the 250-mile circuit to prevent them from tearing off. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) expressed alarm over the event's affiliation with Freedom 250, which he described as a corrupt organization. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated, "What’s more American than fast cars racing through the streets of our nation’s capital?" IndyCar drivers, including Kyle Kirkwood, expressed excitement about racing past the Capitol building and museums, calling it a serious honor and privilege. Rinus VeeKay, a Dutch driver, also noted the unique experience. Separately, President Trump signed a new national space transportation policy on Thursday, calling for the development of more spaceports to support over 1,000 launches and reentries per year by 2030. The policy replaces a 2013 policy and emphasizes supporting the commercial space industry. It directs the Pentagon and NASA to prioritize infrastructure investments at federal spaceports like Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The Spread
Flat
What they agree on
- President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race on Washington D.C.'s National Mall, and will wave the green flag to start the race.
- The two-day event, part of America 250 celebrations, features 25 drivers racing 147 laps on a 1.7-mile circuit past landmarks like the Capitol and Washington Monument.
- The race required converting D.C. streets into a temporary circuit, with IndyCar paying over $35 million for the conversion and D.C. using a $90 million fund for security.
- Over 200 manhole covers on the race circuit were welded down to ensure safety during the high-speed event.
- Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser anticipates 140,000 visitors per day for the race festivities.
Where they split
- The Independent and The Straits Times lead with President Trump's expected attendance and ceremonial role at the IndyCar Grand Prix, highlighting his personal involvement in the event.
- Raw Story and Deseret News emphasize the concerns raised by critics, such as Rep. Jared Huffman, regarding the event's affiliation with the "corrupt organization" Freedom 250 and potential traffic issues.
- Ars Technica, Space.com, and TechCrunch include a separate story about President Trump signing a new national space transportation policy, which is unrelated to the IndyCar race but occurred around the same time.
- NPR and ABC News focus on providing practical information about the IndyCar race, such as what to know about the event and its schedule.
Source Perspectives
Left3 sources
Center5 sources