Trump Takes “Lap of Honor” in The Beast, Waves Green Flag as American Kyle Kirkwood Dominates Freedom 250 Grand Prix

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived Sunday at the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix, completed a ceremonial lap in the presidential limousine known as The Beast, and the president waved the green flag to start IndyCar’s first-ever street race through the heart of Washington. Hours later, American driver Kyle Kirkwood delivered a dominant victory on the temporary circuit built around the National Mall, giving the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration an American winner.

The 1.7-mile, seven-turn course wound past the U.S. Capitol, along Pennsylvania Avenue, around the National Mall and near the Washington Monument. Trump and Melania rode in The Beast at a measured pace while Air Force One and F-35 fighter jets conducted flyovers overhead. Crowds lining the course cheered the motorcade. Trump later told Fox Sports the ride would be “slightly slower than the ones we’re going to witness, but we’re going to have fun.”

From a suite positioned past Turn 1, Trump waved the green flag, officially sending the field of 25 cars into the 250-mile, 147-lap event. Drivers reached speeds approaching 185-190 mph on streets normally limited to 25 mph. The free public spectacle drew tens of thousands of spectators as part of the summer-long America 250 celebrations made possible by an executive order Trump signed earlier this year. Organizers had sought a Washington street race for two decades; Trump’s involvement turned the idea into reality.

Kirkwood, driving the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda, seized the lead on the opening lap from polesitter and championship leader Álex Palou and never looked back. The Florida native led 128 of the 147 laps, holding off late challenges after a pair of restarts to win by 3.09 seconds. Christian Lundgaard finished second, with Kirkwood’s teammate Will Power third and Marcus Ericsson fourth. Palou endured a pit-road penalty, a slow stop and a late spin, finishing 20th and seeing his points lead trimmed.

Kirkwood called the victory “incredible” and “a big moment for America,” noting the significance of an American driver winning the race staged for the nation’s semiquincentennial. The 2-hour, 41-minute contest featured the usual street-circuit chaos—crashes, debris and cautions—but Kirkwood’s control was rarely threatened. The event combined high-speed racing with patriotic pageantry, including military flyovers and the Marine Band, as Trump’s presence underscored the official character of the celebration.

The Freedom 250 closed a summer of anniversary events that included fireworks, a state fair and a UFC card on the White House grounds. With the checkered flag waving in front of the Capitol, the inaugural race delivered both spectacle and a fitting American triumph.