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The NTT IndyCar Series is preparing to hit the streets of Washington, DC for the first time on August 23, and now we know when the green flag will fly.
There is absolutely no doubt about it: The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC will be a complete spectacle as cars race past some of our country’s most iconic landmarks.
As such, it gets the level of coverage it deserves.
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Workouts 1 and 2 will air Saturday, August 22 on FS1 and FS2, respectively. Qualifying will take place that evening from 5-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2.
Then, on Sunday morning, IndyCar broadcast booth regulars — lap-by-lap commentator Will Buxton, along with former drivers turned broadcasters Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe — will call the warmup from 9 to 10 a.m. ET on FS1.
IndyCar will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
After that, expanded pre-race coverage will begin on FOX at 11:30 a.m. ET, with the race beginning shortly after 1 p.m. ET.
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In addition to the IndyCar action, the International Race of Champions, or IROC, will return as a support series for the weekend. They will race Saturday, with IndyCar greats Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan alongside NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott using the same Pontiac Firebirds that the original IROC series used from 1996 to 2006.
IndyCar drivers (left to right) David Malukas, Felix Rosenqvist and Alex Palou visited the White House this week. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg)
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There is a lot of excitement surrounding this unique addition to the 2026 IndyCar schedule, and this week, reigning series champion Alex Palou, Indy 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist and Team Penske’s David Malukas were all at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump and to make a few pit stops.
IndyCar has another big weekend ahead, as the series heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, which will air on FOX immediately following the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals.
