By The Washington Times (Politics) | Created at 2026-08-11 19:36:08 | Updated at 2026-08-11 20:47:48
2 hours ago
Flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will stop for three hours to keep the skies clear ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that flights will be paused at Reagan National from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23 due to the IndyCar Series race taking place around the National Mall. The FAA also noted that the times could change.
Earlier this summer, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said that there would be flight adjustments at Reagan National, which it administers, around events organized by Freedom 250 due to planned flyovers and aerial displays.
The FAA did not specify what activity requires the use of the airspace on the day of the race.
As currently scheduled, the pause on flights at Reagan National will end just minutes into the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which is slated to start at about 1:10 p.m. and end about 3:40 p.m., according to the official event website.
The event is the first auto race to ever be held on the streets of the District of Columbia.
The 1.7-mile track starts on Third Street SW just across from the U.S. Capitol, followed by a turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue NW and three turns in quick succession onto Ninth Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW and Seventh Street NW around the National Archives.
After another straight section, the track then has a turn onto Independence Avenue SW and two final turns onto Maryland Avenue SW and back onto Third Street SW.
Earlier this month, event organizers announced that the race will include 147 laps, up from the usual 125 laps, to bring the total amount of miles driven to 250 miles in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
Due to this, the race will include an additional pit stop in a separate lane on Pennsylvania Avenue NW past the first turn, event organizers said in a release.
