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U.S. President Donald Trump receives a racing helmet from reigning IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix car race, August 22 and 23 on the National Mall, is part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Three of the biggest stars in the NTT IndyCar Series were at the White House on Monday, July 13 where they were honored by President Donald J. Trump at an event to promote the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C.
Four-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, 110th Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing and Team Penske’s David Malukas were there for a special ceremony outside the West Wing of the White House. It included a pit stop demonstration from Team Penske’s pit crew on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Others at the special White House visit included IndyCar Owner and Penske Corporation founder and Chairman Roger Penske, Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks, General Motors President Mark Reuss and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Palou presented President Trump with a special Freedom 250 Grand Prix racing helmet.
Alex Palou Said Touring The Oval Office With The President Was Like ‘Being In A Movie’
After the public portion of the event concluded, the three drivers were given a tour of the White House and the Oval Office by President Trump.
“For me, it was just like being in a movie, honestly,” Palou told me in an exclusive interview on Monday. “I've seen the White House and I've seen the Oval Office and Presidents walking on movies and it just felt like I was in a movie being part of it so for me it was a very special moment just having the opportunity to do this.
“I think I’ve been very lucky in in my career to go to do a lot of cool stuff and for sure it was one of those days that I'll forever remember.”
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US President Donald Trump speaks alongside (L/R) US driver David Malukas, Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist, and Spanish driver Alex Palou during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Showcase outside the White House in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2026. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix race will be the fifteenth round of the 2026 IndyCar Series, taking place on August 22-23 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)
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Palou is from Barcelona, Spain, Rosenqvist from Varnamo, Sweden and Malukas from Chicago.
Malukas was behind the wheel for the Pit Stop demonstration and Palou was impressed that IndyCar literally left its mark on the White House grounds.
“David left a good burnout there, which was pretty cool to see,” Palou said, referring to the Team Penske driver lighting up the tires during the pit stop in front of the President and the other dignitaries. “It was one of those things that you never think that would be possible and that I will go to experience and see for myself.
“It was just very cool.”
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US President Donald Trump watches as mechanics work on the car of US driver David Malukas outside the White House during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Showcase in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2026. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix race will be the fifteenth round of the 2026 IndyCar Series. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
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Oval Office Tour A Memorable Experience For Alex Palou
But for Palou and the small group that got invited inside the Oval Office, that’s the part of Monday’s program that he will remember for the rest of his life.
“Yeah, I got to be at the Oval Office,” Palou said with excitement. “Just another crazy moment. I got to get a small tour, let's say, around the offices there. And it was just a super cool moment once again, Just to be on those offices in those areas that I’ve seen as a kid in movies, and it was it was a great experience.”
Although Palou is from Spain, since coming to IndyCar in 2020 he has spent most of his time in the United States. The portraits of past presidents inside of the White House gave the 2025 Indy 500 winner a strong sense of history, especially on the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
“Just seeing the Oval Office and the Cabinet Office as well, and all the decisions that over the history of the United States have been made there, and just for me to be able to sit in person and just walk around, it was just breathtaking,” Palou told me.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with the reigning IndyCar series champion Alex Palou as 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist looks on at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix car race, August 22 and 23 on the National Mall, is part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist And David Malukas Bring IndyCar To The White House
Palou, Rosenqvist and Malukas were in their IndyCar driving suits to the right of the President with Penske and the other members of the entourage to the left when the program began Monday afternoon.
“These people have a lot of courage on my right,” President Trump said. “It takes something special. What a great job you have done.
“I’m thrilled to be here from some of the most extraordinary figures in the history of motorsports and any sport as we count down to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. This will be like no other race, ever.
“It will be one of the most unforgettable racing events the world has ever seen.
“I’ve watched all three of you do very well recently. I don’t want to go 250 miles an hour with two inches separating my car. I don’t want to do that, but what you’ve done is in incredible over the last couple of races.”
Freedom 250 Grand Prix Will Showcase Speed, Ingenuity, Horespower And Patriotism
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. is August 22-23 and will be contested on the streets around the National Mall. The course will pass some of the greatest and most historic landmarks in the Nation’s Capital.
“It will be an awesome display of American patriotism and raw horsepower and ingenuity,” Trump said. “You're going to see cars at the level that they've never been at before, with cars racing more than 190 miles and even higher than that down Pennsylvania Avenue.
“It wasn't exactly designed for that, but what Sean Duffy has done with these incredible, brilliant people is really amazing.
“It’s going to be a sight for the ages. It really will be something special. And they're going to go all around the National Mall…it’s going to be a beautiful thing to watch.
“It’s the first racing event of its kind happening as part of our great celebration on the 250th Anniversary of America’s freedom.
“It's free. It’s totally free and something they are doing for the country.”
Freedom 250 Puts 'Free" Into “Freedom”
There is no charge for this one-time only event, but those who wanted to attend had to submit for the free tickets last month. According to Roger Penske, there were more than 250,000 requests and a lottery determined those who received the 100,000 free tickets.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13: Penske Corporation CEO Roger Penske (2nd-L), accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump (L), Freedom 250 Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker (R), and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (2nd-R), speaks during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix car race, August 22 and 23 on the National Mall, is part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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“When you think about 250 years of this country, it's an amazing time,” Penske said. “It's a great place to live. It's a great place to work and I think we're fortunate to have the most important office in the world give us the green light and then the checkered flag to have this event in August.
“Think about it. Over 250,000 people signed up to come to this event, and we’ll be able to accommodate 100,000 each of the two days. And it’s for free, as the President said. But we're honored.
“I think it’s an opportunity to showcase. The technology, the speed, the partnerships, and the athletes can make such a difference.
“We think about the Indy 500 as an iconic race, but this is going to move right up there next to it as far as we’re concerned from the standpoint of the best in the world.”
Freedom 250 Kicks America 250 Celebration Into High Gear
In a year of celebration as the United States turned 250 on July 4, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will kick that celebration into high gear.
“On our 250th anniversary, America deserves the greatest celebration in the history of our country and the history of the world, and I think this is it,” President Trump said. “And this is really a big part of the crescendo.
“So next month, these exceptional sportsmen, drivers, athletes, they're great athletes. Nothing. nothing nobody can do they're born with something very special they're born with an ability to press that pedal all the way down to the ground most people can't do that very few people can but they're beautiful cars.
“This will be a freedom that's roaring like never before.”
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13: IndyCar series driver David Malukas gets into his IndyCar to perform during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase with U.S. President Donald Trump on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix car race, August 22 and 23 on the National Mall, is part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Alex Palou’s American Journey Leads To The White House
Behind closed doors, Palou said the President spoke with excitement about the prospect of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and how it will showcase the series that includes the Indianapolis 500 as part of the America 250 celebration.
When Palou began his motorsports journey, he was hoping to get to Victory Lane.
On Monday, that journey took him to the White House.
“For sure, that was not in my cards, not in my bingo cards,” Palou told me. “I have no words for the opportunities that this sport and everybody in IndyCar and CGR (Chip Ganassi Racing) has given me.
“And I'm ready for more, man. I'm ready to continue to push to win and to get more crazy experiences like this.”
Alex Palou has proven to be a master of the moment during his seven-year IndyCar career, making the difficult look easy. As he closes in on what could be his fifth NTT IndyCar Series Championship in 2026, a victory in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix at Washington, D.C. would be a “Crown Jewel” accomplishment during an historic celebration for the United States.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13: Reigning IndyCar series champion Alex Palou (C) arrives at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase with U.S. President Donald Trump on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix car race, August 22 and 23 on the National Mall, is part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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