‘Lighten up a bit’: Trump caps US’ 250th birthday with IndyCar race in DC

Washington: A cheer goes up from the crowd at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern in downtown Washington, DC. President Donald Trump has appeared on the TV screen, waving from the grandstand with the First Lady.

The inaugural IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix might be principally a sporting event, but it is also political.

“I’m here to support America,” says Jeanette Boras, 68, who has travelled from California with her son. They also came for Trump’s inauguration and recent July 4 celebrations.

“In my personal opinion, Trump is doing an amazing job. He’s bringing people together. I’m just here to support him - to make America great again.”

Crowds packed the streets around Washington’s National Mall on Sunday (US time) for the first IndyCar race to ever take place in the nation’s capital.

For 147 laps, they zoomed around the grand Smithsonian museums and hulking government buildings that surround the mall, watched by the lucky 100,000 who scored their free trackside tickets in a lottery.

Crowds faced tight security; the Secret Service ordered people to empty their water bottles before entry. Inside, queues of up to 100 people snaked over the grass waiting for lunch from the “Freedom Grill” – where water was available for $US4.50 a bottle. A beer costs $US14 (and a half-hour wait).

Spectators were treated to no fewer than seven military flyovers, including the luxury Boeing 747 that was gifted to Trump by Qatar for use as Air Force One.

Ahead of the race, the president’s motorcade – including the reinforced limousine known as the Beast – took a leisurely lap of honour around the 2.7-kilometre-long course, receiving loud cheers.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum delivered the traditional line: “Gentlemen, start your engines.” Trump waved the green flag to commence racing.

It was the capstone event to a summer of celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, including a UFC fight at the White House, the Great American State Fair and a record-breaking fireworks display on July 4.

The events were organised by Freedom250, an outfit established by the Trump administration to essentially take over from America250, a bipartisan organisation set up by Congress, and provide more patriotic, Trump-aligned programming.

First lady Melania Trump – a racing fan whose father took her to Formula 1 events when she was growing up in Europe – helped tie the event to her foster youth initiative, Fostering the Future.

“It’s an incredible day,” she told broadcast partner Fox. “I loved every minute of it.”