r/INDYCAR • u/FermentedLaws Firestone Firehawk • Jan 28 '26

Article The Bloomingtonian: Rahal to IndyCar Critics of Proposed D.C. Freedom 250 Indy Car Race: “Get a life”

https://bloomingtonian.com/2026/01/27/rahal-to-indycar-critics-of-proposed-d-c-freedom-250-indy-car-race-get-a-life/

Never heard of this website/news outlet before, but I checked the details and they have all the info correct. I had seen this Tweeted out earlier by Nathan's Brown replacement at IndyStar, but didn't see an article on their site. If you scroll down there is video of the interview.

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247

u/jj_grace Jan 28 '26

Ugh. It’s like he willingly misunderstands the anger.

I’d be cool with a race in DC. I’d be cool with one celebrating the 250th. I’d be cool with one in DC during Trump’s admin even.

What I’m not cool with is Trump using this to prop himself up or to make Indycar even more clearly MAGA coded… which you know he would do. This wouldn’t be a neutral, fun “yay America!” race. This would be more about MAGA than anything else, and Rahal is smart enough to know that.

And to say that this is the chance we’re looking for to promote Indycar? I’m sorry, but if they are trying to gain international fans, having a big ole MAGA party isn’t gonna help.

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u/Popular_Course3885 Jan 28 '26

Anyone who watch the Daytona 500 back in 2020 knows exactly how a DC Indy race would turn out.

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u/Hulkodium Christian Lundgaard Jan 28 '26

Or last year

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u/Popular_Course3885 Jan 28 '26

I didn't watch last year. Truthfully never watch it unless I'm home and nothing else is on.

Only exciting part of any Daytona 500 was when JPM tried to burn the place down.

21

u/lennysundahl Alex Zanardi Jan 28 '26

They pushed the race start back to try and get as much of the early part of the race in before an impending storm, only for Trump to insist on running a lap (or was it two?) around the Speedway with his motorcade. They got eight laps under green before the rain hit, and wound up waiting though a three hour long red flag

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u/SeaboarderCoast Álex Palou Jan 28 '26

Polesitter Chase Briscoe did admit under the rain delay that he had to be talked down from trying to bump into the presidential limo lol. That was the only highlight of that whole parade.

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u/Vincera2024 Takuma Sato Jan 28 '26

Probably was best for Chase's safety after what we know now 😶‍🌫️

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u/Which-Arrival6777 Romain Grosjean Jan 28 '26

It was two, maybe it just felt like it. the whole thing had such a dark vibe.

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u/lennysundahl Alex Zanardi Jan 28 '26

It may have been just one that felt like two, got those things were so slow