FIA Hails Success of Landmark INDYCAR Freedom 250 Grand Prix as Motorsport Takes Centre Stage in Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has hailed the successful staging of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. as a landmark moment for American motor sport and a powerful demonstration of motor sport’s continued growth across the United States.

Held as part of the celebration marking the 250^th anniversary of the United States of America, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix brought world-class motorsport to the heart of the nation’s capital with Florida born Kyle Kirkwood taking victory in front of a packed crowd with thousands lined up all around the circuit.

The race comes at a time of unprecedented momentum for motor sport in the United States as American audiences for Formula 1 have grown significantly with a record 76.3m fans now engaging across the country¹. In 2025, the economic impact of the motor sport industry in the U.S. topped $69.2 billion, supporting over 318,000² jobs. The nation continues to play an increasingly important role across international competition, automotive innovation and the global motorsport industry, playing host to five FIA races across three FIA Championships in 2026 – with the FIA World Rally Championship and Karting Championships set to return to American soil from next year.

Working alongside its Member Club, the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUS), the FIA has supported and governed motorsport in the United States for more than 70 years. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix added another major event to that landscape and underlines the strength and ambition of motor sport in the United States.

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. has been an extraordinary celebration of American motor sport, and I congratulate President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, the Administration, INDYCAR, ACCUS and everyone who worked to bring this vision to life.

“In particular, I commend Roger Penske for his unwavering determination in making this race a reality. Not only has he and Freedom 250 Grand Prix chairman Bud Denker secured bipartisan support for this historic occasion, but he and his team have also succeeded in delivering this outstanding event at an extraordinary pace.

“There has never been a more exciting time for motor sport in the United States. The passion of American fans is clear to see, the automotive and motor sport industries here are among the strongest in the world, and the country is playing an increasingly important role across our sport.

“The FIA is proud to be part of that story as we continue to work to support and grow motorsport across the United States. Today, our World Championships bring some of the biggest events in global motorsport to American soil, and our ambition is to build on that momentum and bring even more opportunities for fans, competitors and the industry.

“This weekend showed the world what is possible when ambition, innovation and sport come together. My congratulations to Kyle Kirkwood, to all the competitors and officials, and to everyone who made this race such a memorable occasion.”

The FIA’s involvement in American motorsport extends across sporting governance, safety, technical regulation and the development of international championships. The Federation also works closely with the American motorsport community to share knowledge and advance safety standards across all disciplines.

¹ https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-us/insights/media-entertainment/documents/ey-us-sports-engagement-index-2026-revised.pdf
² https://performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/06-18-2025/new-pri-study-finds-motorsports-industry-has-692-billion-economic