DC Grand Prix: Freedom 250 race route revealed

We now know where race cars will zoom through downtown D.C. and along the National Mall this summer.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will send cars speeding at 190 mph through D.C. on Aug. 22 and 23 as part of America 250 celebrations, marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Bergum and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared new details at a news conference Monday afternoon on the National Mall.

“It’s a combination of history and horsepower that’s going to happen here,” Bergum said.

He said he expects more than 1 million spectators to watch in person for free.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser urged people to plan visits to D.C. for the event.

“We want people to plan their trips to D.C. now. Come for the Freedom 250, and then stay to enjoy our monuments and museums, our beautiful parks, world-class restaurants and hotels, and all the culture and entertainment that make us the best city in the world,” she said.

DC Grand Prix track map

The planned race track is about 1.7 miles long and includes seven turns, organizers said.

“The Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature a 1.7-mile, seven-turn layout, blending the high-speed demands of INDYCAR racing with the historic character and stunning visuals of the nation’s capital. The racing circuit will wind around the National Mall, incorporating some of America’s most historic and iconic landmarks,” a statement said.

The route includes a “sweeping 0.4-mile frontstretch along Pennsylvania Avenue, framed by the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol,” it said.

The pit lane area will be on Pennsylvania Avenue, between Turns 1 and 2 on the circuit design,” plans say.

The race course will be built this summer, “with the roads near the U.S. Capitol and around the National Mall expected to remain open and accessible throughout the majority of the course creation,” organizers said.

Organizers unveiled a red, white and blue race car that will go on display in D.C., Maryland and Virginia before the race.

‘Make DC great again’

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation expressed support for D.C. Grand Prix plans.

“The Grand Prix is an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate our nation’s proud racing pedigree, showcase the beauty of the National Mall, and generate millions in critical tourism revenue for the Capital,” a statement to NBC News in January said.

“The Trump Administration is determined to make D.C. great again, and this race is another example of that commitment. We’ll keep working with our partners in Congress to outline the positive impacts it will have on the District and correct the record,” it said.

Other America 250 events planned this year in D.C. include the Patriot Games, a state far on the National Mall and a UFC fight at the White House, as NBC Washington reported.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.