Fans gathered along the streets of Washington, D.C., to watch the NTT IndyCar Series’ Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. The event not only showcased high‑speed open‑wheel racing around iconic landmarks but also captured a massive television audience.
Historic TV ratings
FOX Sports reported that 3.282 million viewers tuned in, a 279% increase over the average for non‑Indy 500 Sunday races. The surge lifted the series’ season‑average viewership to 1.875 million, up 32% from the previous season and 70% higher than the 2024 broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Race highlights
Florida native Kyle Kirkwood dominated in his No. 27 Andretti Global Honda, taking the lead from Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou on the opening lap and holding it despite late‑race pressure from Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard. A Turn 1 incident on the final qualifying lap prevented Kirkwood from maximizing his points haul, but his pace remained virtually unmatched.
Looking ahead
The series now turns to a doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile, followed by a road‑course finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. All three upcoming races will be broadcast on FOX, promising continued momentum for the sport.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
