It’s race day in Washington, D.C., as the NTT IndyCar Series takes over the nation’s capital for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
The inaugural event will be a spectacle unlike anything racing has ever seen
, as the street course takes drivers (and viewers) around parts of the iconic National Mall as they pass by some of Washington’s most famous landmarks, including the National Gallery of Art, the National Air and Space Museum and the National Archives.The counterclockwise circuit features seven turns over a 1.7-mile temporary street course. With a total distance of 250 miles (147 laps), it marks the second-longest street or temporary circuit race in IndyCar Series history. The pit road entrance is on Pennsylvania Avenue just after Turn 1, and the start-finish
line is directly west of the U.S. Capitol Building.
All the top IndyCar drivers will be competing in the race, including points leader and reigning IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou, six-time champion Scott Dixon, two-time champion Josef Newgarden and 2026 Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist. Palou has won four consecutive IndyCar championships and four of the past five, with Will Power breaking up Palou’s streak in 2022 when he captured his second series title.
Palou comes into the Freedom 250 with six victories this season and a 133-point lead over No. 2-ranked driver Kyle Kirkwood. Will the Chip Ganassi Racing driver make it seven wins in 15 races in 2026?
Here’s all the information you need to get ready for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.:
What time does the IndyCar Freedom 250 start?
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 23, in Washington, D.C.
What TV channel is the IndyCar Freedom 250 on?
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will be broadcast on FOX at 1 p.m. ET, with a pre-race show at 11:30 a.m. ET on FS1.
Will there be a live stream of the IndyCar Freedom 250?
Yes, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix can be lived streamed on Fox One and on Fubo.
Stream the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Fubo
How many laps is the IndyCar Freedom 250?
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is 147 laps around the 1.7-mile Washington, D.C., street course for a total of 250 miles.
Who leads the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series standings
Four-time series champion Alex Palou leads the standings with four races remaining in the 2026 season. Here are the top five drivers in points:
- Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing — 542 points
- Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global — 409 points
- David Malukas, Team Penske — 405 points
- Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren — 403 points
- Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren — 385 points
What is the lineup for the IndyCar Freedom 250?
Here is the starting lineup for the IndyCar Freedom 250 following Saturday's qualifying:
- Row 1
- 1, Alex Palou
- 2, Kyle Kirkwood
- Row 2
- 3, Scott McLaughlin
- 4, Christian Rasmussen
- Row 3
- 5, Marcus Armstrong
- 6, David Malukas
- Row 4
- 7, Pato O'Ward
- 8, Dennis Hauger
- Row 5
- 9, Christian Lundgaard
- 10, Felix Rosenqvist
- Row 6
- 11, Caio Collet
- 12, Nolan Siegel
- Row 7
- 13, Will Power
- 14, Scott Dixon
- Row 8
- 15, Marcus Ericsson
- 16, Josef Newgarden
- Row 9
- 17, Alexander Rossi
- 18, Louis Foster
- Row 10
- 19, Rinus VeeKay
- 20, Mick Schumacher
- Row 11
- 21, Romain Grosjean
- 22, Graham Rahal
- Row 12
- 23, Sting Ray Robb
- 24, Kyffin Simpson
- Row 13
- 25, Santino Ferrucci (Received 6-position grid penalty for excessive engine changes, per IndyStar.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: IndyCar Freedom 250 start time, TV, streaming, lineup for Washington, DC race
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