IndyCar Series Heads to Washington, D.C.

The NTT IndyCar Series is all set for its debut on the streets of Washington, D.C. on August 23rd, and the schedule is now clear for when the race will kick off.

No doubt about it, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix promises to be a grand event, with cars racing past some of the nation’s most iconic monuments. It’s becoming quite the highlight.

Practice sessions 1 and 2 will air on FS1 and FS2 on Saturday, August 22nd. Qualifying is slated for FS2 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM (ET) that same day.

On Sunday morning, lap commentator Will Buxton, along with former drivers and current commentators Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe, will host coverage on FS1 from 9 AM to 10 AM ET.

Following that, pre-race coverage will kick off on FOX at 11:30 AM ET, leading right into the race, which starts just after 1 PM ET.

This weekend will also see the return of the International Race of Champions (IROC) as a supporting series. They’ll race on Saturday, featuring IndyCar legends like Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti, alongside NASCAR veterans Jeff Gordon and others. They’ll be using the same Pontiac Firebird that the original IROC series showcased between 1996 and 2006.

Excitement is definitely in the air for this new addition to the 2026 IndyCar calendar. Reigning series champion Alex Palou, along with Indy 500 champ Felix Rosenqvist and Team Penske’s David Markus, all visited the White House recently to meet with President Trump, even performing a practice pit stop.

IndyCar has a busy weekend ahead with the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway scheduled for Sunday. Tune in on FOX right after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final to catch the Grand Prix.