IndyCar CEO ‘never feasible’ reveals why race at Washington DC celebrating 250 years of US independence is unrealistic causing doubts from fans
In a candid revelation that has sent ripples through the motorsport community, Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment—the entity overseeing the NTT IndyCar Series—has dismissed the prospect of a high-profile street race in Washington, D.C., for the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026 as utterly unworkable. Speaking on the Pit Pass Indy podcast, Miles laid bare the logistical nightmares and security hurdles that render the idea a non-starter, at least for next year. His comments, delivered with a mix of pragmatism and faint optimism for the distant future, come just weeks after the 2025 season wrapped at Nashville Superspeedway, leaving fans to grapple with yet another dashed hope for series expansion.
The buzz around a D.C. race ignited in late August, shortly after Fox Sports acquired a one-third stake in Penske Entertainment, positioning the broadcaster as a key player in IndyCar’s strategic growth. Reports from Sports Business Journal painted an ambitious picture: a temporary street circuit weaving through the nation’s capital, timed to coincide with July 4th celebrations marking the semiquincentennial of American independence. Envisioned as a marquee event, it promised to blend high-octane racing with patriotic spectacle, potentially drawing massive crowds to landmarks like the National Mall or RFK Stadium site. The idea, reportedly floated initially by Fox executives eager to leverage their new investment, aligned with IndyCar’s push for urban street races that have revitalized interest in cities like Detroit and Toronto.
Yet, as the 2026 schedule took shape without any mention of the capital, speculation turned to skepticism. Miles, Roger Penske’s trusted right-hand man and the series’ operational linchpin, addressed the rumors head-on during the podcast. “I would say it’s complicated to imagine having a street race in Washington D.C. because of the obvious logistical and other considerations,” he said, characterizing it as “kind of a long putt.” He traced the concept back to Fox: “Frankly, this was an idea that I think maybe first surfaced from FOX.” While acknowledging exploratory meetings—”We’ve had meetings and discussions, and impossible to handicap the probability of it happening”—Miles was unequivocal about the timeline. “I don’t think a 2026 race in Washington DC was ever feasible.”
The CEO’s candor peeled back the layers of what makes the District a uniquely formidable venue. IndyCar street races demand meticulous planning: erecting barriers, rerouting traffic, and coordinating with local authorities months in advance. In D.C., those challenges amplify exponentially due to federal oversight. “It’s just, it’s a temporary street circuit. You all know how much is involved in trying to make that work. Imagine trying to make that work in the nation’s capital with less than a year’s notice, really,” Miles explained. Security clearances alone—navigating Secret Service protocols near the White House and other sensitive sites—could take years to secure, not the rushed window available post-Fox deal. Compounding the issue, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has already locked in a major event at the White House lawn for the July 4 weekend, a cornerstone of the anniversary festivities that leaves little room for dueling spectacles.
Historical precedents underscore the hurdles. Washington hosted open-wheel racing briefly in the early 2000s with the Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, a Champ Car event that fizzled after two years amid logistical woes and tepid attendance. A 2016 Red Bull Global Rallycross event at RFK Stadium fared better but was a far cry from the full IndyCar spectacle. Miles didn’t rule out the capital entirely—”It doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be an opportunity a little further down the line”—but his tone suggested a pivot to more viable expansions, like the recently shelved Mexico City race, scuttled partly due to 2026 World Cup conflicts.
For IndyCar’s devoted fanbase, the news lands like a caution flag on a dream lap. Social media lit up in August with excitement, from Reddit threads hailing a D.C. race as “great publicity” for the series’ semiquincentennial tie-in to X posts envisioning fireworks-synced podium celebrations. One enthusiast on r/INDYCAR called it “a huge opportunity,” while journalists like Adam Stern amplified the hype, noting Fox’s role in scouting “major new events.” Now, with Miles’ reality check, that enthusiasm has curdled into doubt. Fans, already frustrated by a 2025 schedule squeezed to 17 races amid venue losses like Texas Motor Speedway, question whether IndyCar’s ambitions outpace its execution. “IndyCar really has no seat at the table,” lamented one X user, echoing broader gripes about competing with juggernauts like the NFL and NASCAR. Others point to the Mexico City fumble—rumored for 2026 but axed despite promoter interest—as evidence of chronic hesitation.
The disappointment runs deeper in a series fighting for relevance. IndyCar’s 2025 season delivered thrills, with Alex Palou clinching a third title in Nashville amid chaotic weather, but off-track woes persist. Attendance dipped at ovals like Iowa Speedway, and the Fox partnership, while injecting capital, hasn’t yet translated to bolder programming. Fans crave innovation—street races have boosted TV ratings by 20% in recent years—but repeated teases without follow-through erode trust. “We fumbled Iowa, Mexico and Washington,” quipped one X poster in a viral meme skewering executives for defaulting to IMS road course doubleheaders.
Miles’ disclosure, timed as teams gear up for offseason testing, underscores a series at a crossroads. With the 2026 calendar expected soon, eyes turn to safer bets: perhaps a return to Thermal Club or bolstering existing markets like Milwaukee. Yet, the D.C. dream lingers as a symbol of untapped potential. In a nation marking 250 years of bold experiments—from revolution to moon landings—IndyCar’s inability to stage a capital showdown feels like a missed spark. Fans, ever resilient, will tune in regardless, but the doubts sown today could accelerate calls for bolder leadership. As Miles put it, the idea remains “intriguing and… exciting” if pullable. The question is whether Penske Entertainment has the pull to try again—or if another long putt will leave the checkered flag waving elsewhere.
