IndyCar Race to Speed Past D.C. Museums, Sparking Art Safety Fears

Washington, D.C. is set to host an IndyCar race on Sunday, with a course that sends high-speed vehicles directly past the National Gallery of Art and three Smithsonian museums. The unusual route has raised concerns among art experts about the safety of the priceless works housed inside those buildings. Organizers, however, are pushing back against the worry. They state that they do not anticipate any damage to the collections. The race, which promises to bring significant attention—and noise—to the city’s iconic National Mall, will test that assurance in real time.