Dude, Scott McLaughlin, he’d never even seen Washington, D.C. before last week. He told me he was just “excited to go there,” right? Well, on Thursday, the man wasn’t just *visiting* the White House, he was *in* the Rose Garden, representing Team Penske and presenting a racing helmet to First Lady Melania Trump. Talk about a first impression for the New Zealand native who just became a U.S. citizen!
Drivers Go Full VIP in D.C. Before Hitting the Pavement
McLaughlin was there with Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, and Alexander Rossi, hitting up the White House. Meanwhile, Rahal, Santino Ferrucci, Alex Palou, and Pato O’Ward were over at the U.S. Capitol grounds, even checking out the Cannon House Office Building. These guys are doing the full D.C. tour before they tear up the streets! And Alex Palou, this four-time (and probably soon-to-be five-time) champ from Spain, he totally gets it. He said, “I know I’m not from this country, but this country has given me so much. Just the opportunity to be here as a car driver, be a winner and a champion and to create a family here in the U.S. So this has been incredible.” That’s what you call appreciation, man. You race on government grounds? You gotta make the stops first.
This Is a Race AND a Spectacle
Roger Penske, the man himself and Chairman of Penske Entertainment Corp., spoke at the White House. He’s hyping up this “amazing, iconic 250-mile Freedom Grand Prix” this weekend, capping off our country’s 250-year anniversary. The start-finish line right across from the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument staring down at the western part of the course. It’s wild! They even pulled off a crazy stunt on Thursday, putting an INDYCAR show car on a subway rail and shuttling it through the metro system. Talk about a promo! Sure, locals are debating the street closures and whether it’s bringing in enough tourism dollars, but everyone’s stopping to check out the setup and asking if they can get on the track just for a photo. Security was even pretty chill about it. This isn’t just a race; it’s a full-blown D.C. takeover!
Green Flag Drops Sunday on Historic Streets
What’s gonna happen when the rubber hits those iconic D.C. streets? Drivers are practicing and qualifying on Saturday, then the main event hits Sunday. We’re talking 147 laps around a 1.7-mile, seven-turn course, tearing through Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and Independence Avenue. And the pre-race spectacle? Six flyovers, one for each branch of the military, kicking off after FOX pre-race coverage starts at 11:30 a.m. ET. President Trump himself is expected to wave the green flag shortly after 1 p.m. for what could be a three-hour marathon. This is probably a one-and-done event for racing on these historic grounds, so these guys better put on a show. They’re hopeful they can deliver, and with this setup, they gotta!
This isn’t just another race weekend, folks. This is a massive, historic event unfolding right in the heart of the nation’s capital. With practice and qualifying tomorrow, all eyes are gonna be on Sunday’s Freedom Grand Prix. Get ready, because it’s going to be an unforgettable, white-knuckle ride when those engines roar to life.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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