Everyone, start your engines! The final inconvenience of our semiquincentennial summer is here: the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. The President Trump-supported IndyCar event will take place on August 22 and 23, with the race route wrapping around the Capitol, parts of the National Mall, and several Smithsonian museums. If you’re planning on being a human existing downtown this weekend, here’s everything you need to know:
It’s going to be loud
According to Dr. Walker Skeeter, a professor of geosciences at Salisbury University who also happens to be a big car racing fan, a typical IndyCar Race produces around 110-130 decibels of noise, a level similar to a rock concert. (By contrast, a normal busy DC street produces around 60-70 dB).
Skeeter says that anyone within one to two miles of the course will be able to hear the race—but those who are super-close to the event may need to be cautious.
“For those nearby, staying indoors will be sufficient to avoid any actual hearing damage, but the constant droning and physical sensation of the noise may lead to some discomfort for those that are sensitive to that sort of thing,” he says. “Anyone nearby that would need to venture out along or very close to the race course should certainly wear ear protection of some kind.”
The race might smell—and not just like victory
Skeeter says that there will be lots of things in the air during the race: at corners and braking zones, tire and brake wear will release particulate matter that could be problematic to those with asthma or other respiratory issues.
“I would generally recommend that anyone attending a race that is highly sensitive to particulate matter in the air should wear an N95-style mask,” he says. “As much as I love the smell of an active racetrack, it’s definitely not for everyone.”
If you’re worried about auto emissions and climate change, there’s a small bit of not-so-bad news: While IndyCars cars burn a lot of gas—roughly three miles per gallonthey also use E85 ethanol race fuel, which produces less greenhouse gasses than the gas dispensed from a typical pump. Given that there won’t be usual traffic on the roads during the two-day race, Skeeter says, there shouldn’t be a particularly large spike in emissions.
Lots of roads will be closed
Speaking of traffic, the race will require some pretty major road closures—effectively in a square bound by the Washington Monument and the Capitol horizontally, and by E St. NW and I-395 vertically. It’s a little bit more complicated than that, though, so make sure to check out the full list of closures here, and a map here.
If you’re trying to get to the race, your best bet is probably using the Metro. Nearby stations include L’Enfant Plaza, Smithsonian, Federal Center SW, Archives, Federal Triangle, Metro Center, Gallery Place, and Judiciary Square. If you’re trying to avoid the race—and people in general—those stations may be a little bit crowded, and ones to skip.
WMATA is making bus adjustments
WMATA tells Washingtonian that it isn’t planning any station closures for the Grand Prix, as none are on the actual race route. However, there will be bus detours. Some, like the D1X, D10, D4X, D6X, D30, D32, D40, D44, D50, and D60—as well as late night service on the D30, D40, D50, and D60—have already been on detour for the race’s setup, and will continue to reroute through September 15.
Starting on Friday, the A40, C11, D24, and C55 will detour, and the D10 and D1X will add additional detours. Those will also end on September 15.
For the most up-to-date information on bus routes, see here.
Several Smithsonian museums are closing
The National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, and the Museum of Natural History are located inside of the Grand Prix’s ticketed access zones. On Friday, regular visitors to those museums will still be able to enter, but they will need to go through a metal detector at the Grand Prix Gates.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Air and Space Museum and the Museum of the American Indian will be located within the Stripes ticketed-access perimeter, and only accessible to people with a Freedom250 Grand Prix Stripes area event ticket. People with event tickets should still secure a timed-entry pass at the Air and Space Museum; no pass will be required for the Museum of the American Indian.
Meanwhile, the Museum of Natural History is in the Stars ticketed-access perimeter, and on Saturday and Sunday a ticket to the Stars zone will be required for entry. Visitors with those tickets do not need to secure a timed-entry pass.
DCA will halt flights
For Washingtonians, this has been a long, hot summer of wondering, “Am I about to die in a full-scale aerial assault, or is this just another patriotic flyover?” This weekend, the answer will once again be the latter.
Because of flyovers happening on Sunday, DC’s airspace will be closed from 10:15 AM until around 1:15 PM. Your airline already should have adjusted your flight schedule because of this, but make sure to check.
In addition, if you’re flying out on Friday, some midday flights may experience delays while planes are practicing for the flyovers. DCA will still be open during all of this, and your best bet is to check with your airline to make sure your flight is running on time.
Businesses nearby will stay open
Despite all of the above, several nearby businesses told Washingtonian that they’re staying open. Penn Quarter Sports Tavern will be serving drinks and food, and The National Theater’s weekend performances of The Notebook will go on as scheduled.
Local Smithsonians will also be offering special deals. All of the restaurants at the Smithsonians inside the race zone will have race-themed offerings. For those not attending the race, the National Museum of American History’s restaurant, America’s Table, will offer a “Racetrack Bundle” including two hot dogs, chips, a soft drink, and checkered flag and spoked wheel cake pops. The nearby Arts and Industries Building will offer family friendly activities, including a DJ and keychain making, while beer, wine, canned cocktails, hot dogs, and other snacks will be available for purchase.
