Washington Street Circuit
Racetrack in Washington, D.C.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Washington Street Circuit is a 1.700 mi (2.736 km) street circuit in the city of Washington, D.C. that hosted the NTT IndyCar Series and IROC in 2026.
Street Circuit (2026) | |
| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°53′14″N 77°02′11″W |
| Opened | 22 August 2026 |
| Closed | 23 August 2026 |
| Architect | Tony Cottman |
| Major events | Current: IndyCar Series Freedom 250 Grand Prix (2026) IROC (2026) |
| Street Circuit (2026) | |
| Length | 2.736 km (1.700 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 0:57.9495 ( Will Power, Dallara IR-18, 2026, IndyCar) |
History
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The original 2026 IndyCar Series schedule was released on September 16, 2025, with no races in Washington, D.C.[1] Rumors circulated that President Donald Trump wanted to host a race to celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial. The race was officially announced on January 30, 2026, with President Trump signing an executive order authorizing the race.[2][3] The order instructed the secretary of the interior and the secretary of transportation to design the course layout within 14 days and to "ensure that all permits, approvals, and other authorizations ... are issued and granted as expeditiously as possible". The executive order also instructed the two Secretaries, in coordination with Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, to "ensure that any roads, trails, or bridges to be used as part of the race course are properly maintained and capable of being used in such a manner".[4] The street circuit will be composed around the National Mall.[5][6] It is the second race hosted in Washington, D.C. since America's 25th birthday (the other was the 2002 Grand Prix of Washington D.C.) on July 4, 1801, when festivities including horseback riding and cockfighting were celebrated. President Thomas Jefferson and the Washington Jockey Club "established a racecourse just blocks from the White House, with part of the course running across Pennsylvania Avenue and through what is now Lafayette Park" according to the White House Historical Association.[7]
Events
- Current
- August: IndyCar Series Freedom 250 Grand Prix, IROC
Lap records
As of August 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Washington Street Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Street Circuit (2026): 1.700 mi (2.736 km) | ||||
| IndyCar | 0:57.9495 | Will Power | Dallara IR-18 | 2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix |
| IROC | 1:13.764[8] | Helio Castroneves | Pontiac Firebird IROC | 2026 Washington IROC round |
