Title: Trump Waves Green Flag as 200 mph IndyCars Roar Down Pennsylvania Avenue — 100,000+ Pack DC Streets

Trump, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, took a ceremonial lap around the temporary circuit in the presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” before flagging off the race [225806][225550]. The president reportedly struggled briefly with how to hold the flag before waving it “fast and furious” to start the competition [226104]. Kyle Kirkwood won the race [226104].

The weekend marked a historic shift for the nation’s capital, transforming streets typically reserved for parades and presidential motorcades into a temporary motorsports venue [224908][225226]. The course ran directly past the National Gallery of Art and three Smithsonian museums, raising concerns among art experts about the safety of priceless collections housed inside those buildings [223695]. Organizers, however, said they did not anticipate any damage to the artworks [223695].

The race followed an executive order signed by Trump in January that authorized the use of Pennsylvania Avenue for the event [224908]. IndyCar series owner Roger Penske, a longtime Trump friend who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in 2019, helped bring the race to Washington and is paying for most of the track construction and road improvements [225550]. Workers welded more than 200 manhole covers shut to prevent cars from sucking them off the road [225550].

The event marked the latest in a series of celebrations honoring the nation’s 250th birthday, including a UFC fight on the White House lawn, military flyovers, and a massive July Fourth fireworks show [225550]. Organizers reported no major incidents, and the event proceeded as scheduled [226860].