110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge
May 29, 2026, 1:30 PM CUT
Exclusive: Santino Ferrucci Expects “Biggest Struggle” at D.C. IndyCar Race After Moving Past “Achilles Heel”
The biggest race of the 2026 IndyCar schedule, the Indy 500, is behind us. And with a Top 10 at the fabled IMS, Santino Ferrucci has concluded an otherwise dire run in the first half of the season, consisting of tracks where AJ Foyt Racing struggled to perform.
While Ferrucci is really excited for the second half of the schedule, one of the remaining 11 races stands out as a potential thorn: the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., a one-off event organized by U.S. President Donald Trump and the government as part of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.
During Wednesday's IndyCar media availability on Zoom, Motor Culture asked Santino Ferrucci what he expects to be his best track in the remainder of the season. The No. 14 Chevrolet driver replied:
"I would say I'm expecting Road America to still be good for us, the rest of the ovals. I know we're testing at a few road courses. I'm expecting to have some pace there. Some of my Achilles' heel tracks are out of the way now, so it's nice. I really like the second half of this calendar."
Santino Ferrucci - PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Pole Day - Indianapolis 500 - Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Chris Owens
Santino Ferrucci - PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Pole Day - Indianapolis 500 - Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Chris Owens
Ferrucci, however, highlighted the Washington, D.C., race as a possible pain point for him and the team in an otherwise favorable stretch.
"I think our biggest struggle on the calendar might be D.C. We're in the same boat as everybody there. It's funny, all my tough tracks are at the start of the year. I go into everything I like after this," Ferrucci added.
The Freedom 250 GP will take place on the streets of Washington around the National Mall. IndyCar has designed a 1.66-mile circuit with seven turns, which will have cars pass in front of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, National Archives, and Hirshhorn Museum.
The longest straight is a 0.4-mile stretch between Turns 1 and 2 on Pennsylvania Avenue. The street track will naturally favor the likes of Andretti Global, while AJ Foyt Racing isn't expected to be among the frontrunners.
Santino Ferrucci's First Reaction To Donald Trump Approving The Freedom 250 GP
On January 30, Donald Trump signed an executive order to direct the White House Task Force to begin preparations for the Freedom 250 GP on the August 22-23 weekend, with help from the Department of Transportation.
Many IndyCar drivers reacted excitedly to the news that would make IndyCar the first series to race around the National Mall. Santino Ferrucci shared his feelings about the news in an X post, writing:
"This is gonna be incredible for our sport 🇺🇸🏁"
For now, the Freedom 250 GP is being organized and marketed as a one-off event. However, Keith Krach, who Trump has appointed as CEO of the Freedom 250 organization, hinted otherwise in a recent interaction with Sports Business Journal.
"That (annual IndyCar race in Washington, D.C.) hasn’t been determined yet, but I think everybody’s thinking that way and hoping that way," said Krach.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is also open to having an IndyCar race through the heart of the nation's capital on a "multi-year" deal, as Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles revealed in March this year.
But for now, the race promises to bring the global spotlight on IndyCar, and is a non-profit event, with the entry free for fans.
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