US President Donald Trump made a historic appearance at the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington, waving the green flag to start the 250-mile spectacle and taking a ceremonial lap in his armored limousine.
The event, created by Trump to celebrate America's 250th birthday, drew in 215,000 spectators over two days, with IndyCar and Penske Racing footing the $35 million bill.
Trump, a self-proclaimed "big fan" of the event, had a prime view of the action as open-wheel cars roared past iconic landmarks at speeds of up to 185 mph. He greeted IndyCar drivers, including series owner Roger Penske and seven Indianapolis 500 winners, before the start of the 147-lap event.
"It has turned out to be bigger than we ever thought possible," Trump told Fox, the race telecaster. "The track is wonderful."
American Kyle Kirkwood took the win, his seventh career IndyCar victory, after two hours and 40 minutes of racing. Kirkwood beat Denmark's Christian Lundgaard by 3.09 seconds, with Australian Will Power coming in third.
"It's a big moment for us, a big moment for America," Kirkwood said, visibly emotional. "I'm almost in tears. This is incredible."
The event was not without its challenges, however, as New Zealand's Scott McLaughlin crashed on a late restart while trying to pass Kirkwood. The American driver escaped unscathed and went on to take the win.
"It was something very special," Kirkwood said. "I will cherish this moment for a very long time."
Penske, 89, was full of praise for the event, saying that it was a "surreal day" sitting alongside Trump. The president, he said, wants the event to return for five more years, with his wife Melania already looking forward to 2027.
The IndyCar series owner noted that the investment in the event's infrastructure will make it easier to stage the race again in the future. However, he also expressed concerns about raising the same level of revenue as this year.
Denker, the president of Penske Racing, said that the decision to return to Washington would be up to the IndyCar series. However, with the First Lady's backing, the pressure is on to make the event a regular fixture.
The event was part of a wider celebration of America's 250th birthday, with Trump taking on a number of high-profile roles to mark the occasion. He has also been involved in other events, including an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout on the White House lawn in June.
As the IndyCar series considers returning to Washington, one thing is clear: the event has left a lasting impression on those involved. With the First Lady already looking forward to 2027, it seems likely that the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix will be back on the streets of Washington soon.
Source: Yahoo Sports