Photos: IndyCars speed past Washington landmarks as part of Freedom 250

What the report says

IndyCar racing returned to the streets of Washington, DC, with the debut of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a Trump-created event tied to US preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary. According to Al Jazeera’s photo gallery, the race route ran along the National Mall and passed landmarks including the Washington Monument, the US Capitol, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The publisher said practice and qualifying took place on Saturday, with Sunday’s race following as part of the weekend program.

The field featured 25 drivers completing 147 laps over a 400km (250-mile) distance on a seven-turn, 2.7km (1.7-mile) street circuit. Al Jazeera reported that Spain’s Alex Palou, the season points leader, secured pole position after posting the fastest qualifying lap and also led practice. The article also noted that cars reached speeds of up to 298km/h (185mph) during the buildup to the race.

The event drew a large crowd, with organisers expecting as many as 100,000 spectators, including President Donald Trump. Al Jazeera’s images showed Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other attendees at the race, along with military flyovers and pit activity. More broadly, the gallery places the race within a broader calendar of 250th anniversary celebrations and highlights the unusual sight of open-wheel cars competing beside some of the capital’s best-known government and cultural sites.