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Kyle Larson relives attempts at 'The Double' as he contemplates trying it again in the future

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:26:15 -0400

After his attempt at running "The Double" was unsuccessful due to rain in 2024, Kyle Larson ran it back the next year.

Larson was aiming to become just the second person to complete both the Indy 500 in Indianapolis and Coke 600 in Charlotte on the same day, joining Ton Stewart in 2001, having already become one of five drivers to even attempt it.

However, Larson crashed on the 92nd lap of the Indy 500, thus ending the dream (rain delayed the start of the Indy500 by 45 minutes, so he probably would not have been able to get to Charlotte in time, anyway).

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Due to the crash in Indianapolis, Larson was able to hop on a flight to Charlotte, but he crashed in that race, too. It was the first time since 1997 that a driver failed to finish both races.

It's just a long day. It's just a really long day. It starts very early in Indy, your first meetings are at 8:30, 9:00 in the morning or something. When you think about from then to when this Coke 600 is done at the end of the night, it's 11:15 p.m. at the earliest probably. It's just a really long day of work," Larson said to Fox News Digital.

"So to me, it takes more mental stamina than anything, but it's still really cool to compete in two of the biggest races in the world, the pageantry that goes along with it and all of that."

Larson's journey in trying the double will be featured in an Amazon Prime Video documentary, "Kyle Larson vs. The Double," to be released next week.

"It's a cool experience, number one, but I think also, just to give the fans an inside perspective of what it takes to prepare for the Indy 500, learning something new, but also what it takes to try and be ready to compete in 1,100 miles of racing in one day with the Indy 500 and Coke 600," Larson said of the documentary.

"Also to show people my journey of my upbringing and my love for racing and all that, but also to showcase how difficult it was, the stress, the emotions, everything that went along with trying to attempt to complete it and not being able to. I think it captured all the stuff that you need for a good film, the drama and emotion and everything else."

Admittedly, Larson did not want to go through all those emotions while watching it back, but he's glad he did.

"It was honestly really cool for me to live back and see where my head was at in all of it. You forgot how stressed I was. So it was just good to relive that..." he said.

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"It was cool just to see my family videos from when I was really young to my kids, because they have filmed me for like three years before," Larson continued. "So even to see my kids as smaller versions of themselves right now, seeing how their personalities are different even today than they were back then is great. There were some memories that were not the most fun to live through in the moment, but I had no problem going through it again because it was cool."

"It was a lot of fun and very interesting and a part of putting a deal and a business deal together that was great experience for me and for Hendrick (Motorsports) and for Kyle and to be able to document all that," added Jeff Gordon, who is featured in the documentary as the co-owner of Larson's team. "It's only been done less than a handful of times. This goes to show you why because it is a very difficult thing. You got to have a lot of things really all align. It's very easy for them not to, as a lot of people will witness through this documentary. But at the same time, I'm so glad we were a part of it and a part of Kyle's journey and that we documented it."

So, is the double in the cards for the future? Unlikely.

"Just 30 minutes of rain can just derail it, so that was just tough to live through. You never say never on trying to do the Indy 500 again someday but as long as I'm a full-time NASCAR driver I just won't be able to (attempt the double)," he said. "And if I never get to run the Indy 500 again, I'm perfectly fine with that as well."

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But Larson got paid back after going through hell on back-to-back Memorial Day Weekends.

"I got repaid with a Brickyard and championship," the reighing NASCAR Cup Series winner said.

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Katherine Legge aims to become first woman to complete the most daunting task in motorsports

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:49:26 -0400

Katherine Legge will attempt to race her way into the history books later this month by becoming the first woman to complete the infamous NASCAR-IndyCar "Double."

For those who don't know, that's when a driver competes in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Both events are held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

Only five drivers have attempted "The Double," which includes running 1,100 miles in one day. Tony Stewart is the only one to complete all 1,100 miles, finishing sixth at Indy in 2001, and third at Charlotte.

John Andretti, Robbie Gordon, Kurt Busch and, most recently, Kyle Larson are the other four drivers to attempt it. Larson missed the start of the Coca-Cola 600 in 2024 because the Indy 500 was delayed due to rain. He crashed out of both events last season.

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Katherine Legge made her NASCAR debut last season

Legge, 45, is no stranger to either series. She made her NASCAR Cup Series debut last season, with a season-best finish of 17th at the Brickyard 400. Legge made her eighth career Cup start last weekend at Watkins Glen, finishing 35th. She's finished 30th or worse in six of her eight races.

This will be her fifth Indy 500, with a career-best finish of 22nd in the 2012 race.

"It’s meticulously organized down to the minute," Legge told USA Today. "I just have to turn left a bunch of times that day. Hopefully there's no weather issues. We'll be all over the place."

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Legge's attempt at "The Double" comes 50 years after Janet Guthrie became the first woman to run practice laps at Indy. She failed to qualify for that year's event, but quickly turned her attention to the World 600, traveling to Charlotte and finishing 15th in the race.

The following year, she became the first woman to race in both the Daytona 500 and Indy 500.

Danica Patrick, of course, is the most recent — and most successful — woman to compete in both forms of racing. Patrick famously finished third in the 2009 Indy 500, and also started on the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500.

Patrick retired after the 2018 Daytona 500 and was the last woman to compete in the Cup Series until Legge made her debut last season. She never attempted "The Double."

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"It seems like there's nobody waiting in the wings ready to take on that mantra," Legge continued. "How many years out are we from having the next me? There's a couple of girls in the Truck Series that I don't think have what it takes to get there. We need to develop the next generation so that I can hand over the baton, so to say.

"But unfortunately, there seems to be this big gap these days. And it's on the IndyCar side, the open-wheel side and on the NASCAR side."

The qualifying procedure for the Indianapolis 500 is getting a slight refresh this year

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:05:42 -0400

Indianapolis 500 practice is officially underway this week, with qualifying coming our way this weekend.

However, the way they'll set the field for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is a little bit different from how it has been in previous years.

The Indy 500 has typically used a format unlike that of any other IndyCar race, and frankly, it's my favorite format in all of motorsports.

You get each car doing a run of four laps, and the field is determined by average speed across those four laps.

But, after that first run, teams can get in a queue to run again and can run as many times as they can before time runs out.

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Or, they can gamble by throwing out their previous time and skipping the line.

It is intense, especially as you get into the final minutes of the session.

Going into May, one of the big talking points was that the number of entries was stuck at 33. Of course, that's a full field, but it robs us all of the drama of bump day when more than 33 cars are trying to earn a spot on the grid.

But, fortunately, some slight tweaks will fuel a little intensity on the second day of qualifying since there will be no bumping.

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Typically, the 12 fastest drivers run on Sunday for a shot at advancing into the Firestone Fast Six and a shot at starting from pole. This year, the fastest nine cars on the first day of qualifying will lock into the Top 12, while the cars that finish the first day in the 10-15 spots will run again for the final three spots.

After the Top 12 run, qualifying will go on as usual.

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I'm as bummed as anyone that we couldn't at least get to 34 cars, but I think this is going to be pretty cool because if you get a so-so run on Saturday but can still get in the top 15, you've still got a shot at pole.

Day one of qualifying will start on Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. ET, and will move from FS2 to FS1 and then finally to Fox throughout the day.

IndyCar driver Felix Rosenqvist gets airborne in road-course wreck

Sun, 10 May 2026 07:51:06 -0400

The Indianapolis Grand Prix was a crash-filled affair on Saturday which saw IndyCar star Christian Lundgaard pick up his first win since 2023.

Felix Rosenqvist was involved in one of the scarier crashes of the day. He was entering Turn 13 of the road course on Lap 29 when he got into the side of Pato O’Ward and went airborne. Rosenqvist tried to drive through the wreck, but his vehicle was too damaged.

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He finished in 23rd after starting the race in third place.

Rosenqvist’s wreck was one of a few that occurred on the course. Drivers trading paint started early as there was bumping coming down the front stretch to take the green flag before Lap 1. As the drivers raced into Turn 1, a handful of drivers were caught up in a spin. Rosenqvist was involved in that incident as well.

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Marcus Ericsson, Christian Rasmussen and Alexander Rossi each failed to finish the race. Romain Grosjean finished the race but was one lap down.

There were 12 caution laps given during the race and six lead changes among four drivers.

The biggest lead change came at the end. Lundgaard passed David Malukas with 18 laps to go. He held off every other driver for the remainder of the race to capture the victory.

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The Indianapolis Grand Prix was the pre-cursor for the Indianapolis 500. IndyCar drivers will now have to get ready for one of the most-anticipated events of the year.

PETA is not happy with IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean after a bird strike during testing

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:47:22 -0400

The Indianapolis 500 open test is in the books, and one of the most-talked-about moments from it had nothing to do with a driver topping the time sheet and everything to do with him accidentally smoking some poor bird with his car.

And — I hope you're sitting down for this — PETA is not happy about it.

On Tuesday, Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean was traveling at 230 mph when his No. 18 Honda had a run-in with a bird that splattered it and Grosjean with every bit of goop that can be packed into a small bird's body.

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Afterward, Grosjean laughed off the unfortunate incident, which could've been catastrophic had it not been for the Aeroscreen that IndyCar uses to protect the cockpit.

"I still have ⁠blood on my race suit; there were pieces of the bird on the rollbar. I couldn't see where I was going anymore; there's plenty on the aeroscreen," he said. "The helmet stinks, the seat stinks. I didn't get any chicken for lunch; I just walked past it."

Grosjean has had his share of scary moments, most notably a horrific, fiery crash in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix when racing for the Haas F1 Team.

He handled the aftermath of that with a similar brand of humor, but that's what PETA wasn't happy about.

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"Birds have feelings, apparently more than Grosjean does, considering that he seemed ⁠more concerned with his car, helmet, and suit — all replaceable — than the smash-up of this unsuspecting bird," PETA senior vice president Mimi Bekhechi said ⁠in a statement to Reuters.

Relax, Mimi...

Also, let's be real here. You've got to kind of put some blame on the bird that thought the best place to hang out on Tuesday in Indianapolis was in the middle of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with 33 cars on track.

No one is happy that a bird got clobbered by an IndyCar. I think the reaction was more of relief that nothing bad happened because a bird strike at that speed can be dangerous.

And I think we'd all be pretty bummed if our race suits and helmets got covered in bird guts.

PETA always has to come, get their attention and then move on to whining about college football mascots that are treated better than a large percentage of humans on Earth.

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However, the bird strike was not the only animal incident from the two-day test.

The second day of running was briefly interrupted by a caution that came out because a fox wandered onto the track.

IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean gives stomach-churning details about hitting a bird during Indy 500 test

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:27:32 -0400

It's not even May yet, but we've got IndyCars on track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the Indianapolis 500.

What a time to be alive.

However, the day did not go quite according to plan for Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean, and that was all thanks to an unfortunate run-in — in the most literal sense imaginable — with a bird.

The two-day open test features all 33 cars currently in the field (which means no one is getting bumped at the moment; I know, I'm bummed too), and it's the first taste of running teams and drivers get before the true practice sessions on the oval begin on May 12.

But on day one, Grosjean wound up with a slight delay after his car struck a bird while he was traveling at around 230 mph.

Now, I'm sure you can work out the math on Grosjean's No. 18 Honda Randy Johnson-ing some poor bird at full speed, but it was messy.

As RACER's Marshall Pruett mentioned in his tweet, this was yet another example of why the Aeroscreen is one of the best things IndyCar has ever introduced.

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With it, this is just kind of an odd, unfortunate (especially for the bird) story.

Without it, that could've been a very serious incident.

While he was out of the car, Grosjean — a former F1 driver for Lotus, Renault and Haas, Renault, and Haas who previously raced for Juncos Hollinger Racing and Andretti Global in IndyCar — talked about what happened.

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"That was not ideal," Grosjean said. "I still have blood all over my race suit, and there are pieces of bird on the roll bars. The helmet stinks, the seat stinks.

"I didn't get any chicken for lunch; I just walked past it. But I call it the 'bad luck bird,' and now it's gone."

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Hopefully, that's the end of the bad luck as Grosjean and DCR could use a good result in the 500, and in the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 9, out on the IMS road course.

Grosjean is currently P20 in the standings while his teammate, rookie Dennis Hauger, is 16 points ahead in P16.

IndyCar driver discusses the mental challenge of IndyCar racing, why winning isn't his only measure of success

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:49:52 -0400

IndyCar drivers lose a lot more than they win, making it difficult to find "success."

But like golf, coming in second place every weekend doesn't exactly make you a loser like it does in individual sports - in fact, it would be the most successful season ever.

"It’s tough, because obviously, there can only be one winner in racing every time we go racing. So it’s not easy," 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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And because of that, Ericsson has his own personal "mental coach" who gives him daily exercises and prompts with different focuses.

In the morning, Ericsson will write down what he's improved on, where his focus lies, and where he's had success. At night, he reflects on the positives he had throughout the day.

"It’s a lot of reflection. What’s interesting with mental training and coaching yourself is the reflection part. It’s not only that the questions can be quite simple, but it’s about taking the time and being present and thinking about things. That’s what is really powerful," Ericsson said.

"A lot of people are so caught up in life, there’s always something going on, the next thing, and you just keep going. If you stop every morning and every evening, sit down for 10 minutes and reflect on your day or how you feel, what’s going on in your mind, I think that’s very powerful. Putting pen to paper and writing it down is also something that’s very powerful."

Driving around at speeds of 200 mph is a mental challenge in itself. Given the fact that Ericsson does it for hours on end, he needs to be extra locked in, and that's where his partnership with Allegra comes in.

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"It’s just super important in what I do. Got to stay sharp, you can’t have any brain fog or anything like that. That’s where Allegra really helps," Ericsson said, noting the height of allergy season. "Helps me stay sharp, helps me stay locked in. So it’s been super important for me."

In practicing his mental game, Ericsson has had to train himself that success does not equal winning. In fact, sometimes, not even finishing in the top 10 might have to be considered a positive.

"Something I work a lot with my coach on as well, the biggest thing I’ve learned throughout my career is that success comes from performing at your highest level and feeling like you are maximizing yourself in the present," Ericsson said. "Sometimes that might be 12th place, fifth place, because there are things out of your control with the car and other factors.

"If I sit here and say I need to win every race, you’re going to be frustrated and disappointed a lot of the time because you can’t win every race. So it’s about focusing on trying to perform at your highest level every time and striving to be at your highest level, understanding how to get yourself there and not make mistakes."

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Obviously, Ericsson goes into every race wanting to win. "That's always there," he said.

"But I think it’s easier to focus on performing at your highest level on a consistent basis," he continued. "If I can do that, I know I’m going to win races. I know I’m going to have good results. So it’s more about that — that’s what I try to focus on."

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IndyCar star Will Power crashes hard into wall during qualifying

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:51:54 -0400

IndyCar star Will Power was involved in a terrifying crash during qualifying on Saturday afternoon ahead of the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix in Birmingham.

Power was driving into a corner at Barber Motorsports Park when his wheels locked up. He couldn’t make the tight left turn he needed. Instead, Power drove through the gravel and head-on into the barrier.

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He was among the top 10 during qualifying before he crashed.

"The brake just went to the floor," Power said after he was cleared from the infield care center. "I think the fronts were working so it was a brake failure on the rear. That’s all I know."

Power maintained that the car was still good despite not having a "clean lap" during the race weekend so far. He will start 23rd when it’s time to go green on Sunday.

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Scott McLaughlin also had a serious crash during practice. He spun out going into a turn and backed his car into the fence at 150 mph.

He said after the crash that it looked a lot worse than it felt. He managed to bounce back a bit during qualifying and will be starting in 14th.

Alex Palou won the pole position with David Malukas, Graham Rahal, Marcus Armstrong and Kyle Kirkwood rounding out the top five.

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The race is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday and can be seen on FOX and FOX One.

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IndyCar driver miraculously walks away from wreck after crashing into course fence

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:44:26 -0400

Ahead of the Grand Prix of Alabama, an IndyCar driver walked away from a scary crash that prompted an emergency response.

Scott McLaughlin lost control of his car attempting to make a hard left turn. Commentators estimated he was traveling at least 150 mph at impact.

The car went off course and crashed into the wall, rear end first.

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A view from inside of McLaughlin's car showed McLaughin bringing his hands to his head when he began to lose control.

McLaughlin was able to walk away from the wreck on his own.

McLaughlin has seven victories to his name, including two in Alabama in 2023 and 2024. He also finished in third place at the race last year.

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His best finish in the Indy 500 was sixth two years ago after earning the pole position. Last year, he crashed during the pace laps and finished 30th.

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McLaughlin has finished in third in the IndyCar Series twice, doing so in 2023 and 2024. He made his IndyCar Series debut in 2020 at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

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NASCAR driver Daniel Dye suspended indefinitely after derogatory remarks about IndyCar racer go viral

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:03:31 -0400

NASCAR driver Daniel Dye was suspended indefinitely Tuesday after making disparaging remarks about IndyCar driver David Malukas during a livestream, mocking the Team Penske driver’s voice in a derogatory way.

Dye, who is facing the second suspension of his career, was suspended this week and issued a public apology after a video of his livestream mocking the IndyCar driver went viral on social media.

In the video, Dye could be heard mimicking Malukas’ voice and referencing his sexuality when describing an interaction between the two. He described Malukas’ voice as "gay."

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"I want to first apologize to David Malukas. I recently went on a live stream with some friends and made some careless comments. I chose my words poorly, and I understand why it upset people. I’m sorry to anyone who was offended. That’s not how I want to represent myself," Dye said in a post on X.

"I have some close friends in the LGBTQ+ community who I would never want to feel less of themselves because of what I said, and that’s exactly why I should hold myself to a higher standard. In talking with them, I realize that a true friend would know better than to act the way I did and for that I need to be a better friend. What I said doesn’t reflect how I feel about them or anyone else."

Dye went on to explain that he did not "think enough" before he spoke and did not mean "any harm."

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"I know that intention does not erase impact and I need to do better," he said.

"I’m taking this seriously and working on being more aware and respectful moving forward. I’m sorry to everyone I let down. I am committed to learning from this and better understanding that the impact that my decisions can have on others. That includes educating myself, listening to those affected, and taking meaningful steps to ensure my actions reflect respect and inclusivity going forward. I know I’ve got a platform and a responsibility, and I need to use it better."

Dye was ordered by NASCAR to undergo sensitivity training as part of his suspension. He was previously suspended in the NASCAR-owned ARCA series when he was 18 after being charged with felony battery for punching a classmate in the groin area.

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The student was treated at a hospital for a potential ruptured testicle. The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor, and Dye was reinstated.

Malukas, who posts often on social media with his girlfriend, did not appear to publicly address the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Trump admin officials reveal details of Freedom 250 Grand Prix in DC

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:53:22 -0400

Trump administration officials peeled back the curtain on what the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will look like when the green flag waves for the IndyCar race on Aug. 23.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Ambassador Monica Crowley and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled the Freedom 250 car, which had the logos of the American celebration on it.

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Officials noted that the event is free for fans to come and watch.

Duffy said he and Roger Penske strategized to each call President Donald Trump and pitch him on the idea of a road race in Washington. He said that it didn’t take much persuasion to have an All-American race in the nation’s capital to celebrate America 250.

"This was a team effort," Duffy said. "It’s Penske, it’s FOX, it’s the mayor, it’s Interior, it’s everybody else joining together not to make a profit, not to get your name out there but to say, let’s celebrate America. Let’s celebrate America’s birthday."

Officials also showed what the course would look like.

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"A project of this magnitude has to have vision from the very top. We’re here today because of President Trump’s executive order, which literally paved the way for this race to become a cornerstone of our national celebration," FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks said. "We want to thank the administration for recognizing that there is no better way to celebrate America 250 than by showcasing American speed and ingenuity than on the streets of our capital.

"For everybody that’s going to be here, no matter which way you look, this is going to be the most distinctly American sporting event that we’ve ever had."

IndyCar drivers will go around the National Mall with the U.S. Capitol as the backdrop for the event. The races will go down 3rd Street and turn down Pennsylvania Avenue to start.

The drivers will zoom past the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum before going back onto 3rd Street.

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The IndyCar race is one of the major sporting events that will take place in D.C. to mark America’s birthday. The UFC announced the card for its White House event, which is scheduled for June.

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President Trump signs executive order bringing IndyCar race to DC for America250

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:09:28 -0500

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to bring IndyCar to the streets of Washington, D.C. for America250 celebrations.

Trump was joined by IndyCar owner and chairperson Roger Penske, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in the Oval Office to announce efforts to organize an IndyCar race in Washington. D.C., later this summer. The event highlights another sporting event organized by the Trump administration in honor of the United States' 250th anniversary.

"We're celebrating ‘Greatness with American Motor Racing,’ that's going to be the name of the event," Trump said, adding that the event will take place from Aug. 21-23.

"It's going to be so exciting. And, I love the race. I don't have a lot of time to watch it, but I love the racing," the president said.

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The president said the potential attendance could "set a record for racing."

IndyCar owner and chairperson Roger Penske added, "This is a really amazing time for us, as a company, to support the 250th anniversary for the country. And there's no better way for us to bring automotive and speed into the D.C. area and to have the opportunity to be able to compete here where there are IndyCars."

"As you know, we own the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and we are taking that history of over 100 years and the speed and what's taking place there with the different manufacturers, and bringing it here to this race will be amazing," he continued. "Certainly the Freedom 250, when you think about it, it's just a byproduct of what the president has done during this year. And this will be an event obviously in August, which will make a huge difference. And we're excited. The areas for people to see most of the grounds will be free. So it's going to be an economic benefit to the area, to the city."

FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks also spoke in the White House, highlighting the World Cup, which will take place in the U.S. this summer.

"It's a real honor to be a partner with Roger and IndyCar. And at Fox Sports, we do the biggest events in sports this year. We have the FIFA World Cup that will be celebrating here as well. And then dovetailing right after that to be able to celebrate America's birthday on FOX, is an absolutely incredible honor," he said. "And everyone at FOX Sports can't wait, to see exactly how this is going to unfold and bring it to life. So, Mr. President, thank you again for signing this today."

According to NBC News, the Interior and Transportation departments will work to "coordinate with the Mayor" and plan a race route near the National Mall "that showcases the majesty of Washington, D.C., and its iconic national monuments," based on a fact sheet.

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The Department of Transportation was making a push to hold a race on the National Mall as part of the celebration, FOX Business confirmed last week.

In conjunction with the push, Trump posted to Truth Social an AI-generated video promoting the race. The video featured fans around the National Mall and drivers speeding through a Washington, D.C., raceway.

"The Grand Prix is an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate our nation’s proud racing pedigree, showcase the beauty of the National Mall and generate millions in critical tourism revenue for the capital," a Department of Transportation spokesperson said. "The Trump Administration is determined to make D.C. great again, and this race is another example of that commitment. We’ll keep working with our partners in Congress to outline the positive impacts it will have on the District and correct the record."

The event does have a roadblock ahead of it, though, as advertising on Capitol grounds is forbidden. Racing vehicles are often littered with ads.

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It is not clear exactly where the track would be located, but the video Trump posted featured the Capitol, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

There is also a UFC event planned for the South Lawn on June 14, Trump's 80th birthday.

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Trump administration pushing for IndyCar race on National Mall for America250

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:49:13 -0500

The Department of Transportation is making a push to hold an IndyCar race on the National Mall as part of the America250 celebration, FOX Business confirmed Friday.

In conjunction with the push, President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social an AI-generated video promoting the race. The video featured fans around the National Mall and drivers speeding through a Washington, D.C., raceway.

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"The Trump Administration is determined to make D.C. great again, and this race is another example of that commitment. We’ll keep working with our partners in Congress to outline the positive impacts it will have on the District and correct the record."

Organizers are aiming for the event to take place on Aug. 21. IndyCar normally runs on Sundays, but there is no event slated for the Sunday after the Aug. 16 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. The next race scheduled is the Snap-On Milwaukee, a two-day event Aug. 29-30, a Saturday and Sunday. Aug. 21 is a Friday.

Neither the White House nor IndyCar immediately responded to an email asking whether the race has been confirmed to take place.

The event does have a roadblock ahead of it, though, as advertising on Capitol grounds is forbidden. It is not clear exactly where the track would be located, but the video Trump posted featured the Capitol, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

EX-AMERICAN TENNIS STARS RIP REPORTER OVER QUESTION TO AMANDA ANISIMOVA

Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have been notified of the plans, Punchbowl News reported.

If the all-clear were given, it would be the second major sporting event held in the nation’s capital as part of America250, along with a UFC event slated for June 14, Trump’s 80th birthday, at the White House.

UFC CEO and President Dana White brushed off concerns that a planned White House fight card marking America’s 250th anniversary would be "too political," saying that "just about everybody on the roster" wants to compete.

In recent interview with Bloomberg’s Romaine Bostick, White was asked if he thought it would be a challenge to get fighters to participate in the UFC event scheduled for June out of fear that it would be "too political" or have "too many political overtones," a notion he shot down.

"I mean, I don’t know how it would be too political other than it’s at the White House," he responded with a laugh. "Listen, if you look back throughout history, I think [former President] George Bush was a big baseball fan, [former President Barack] Obama was an NBA fan and Trump is a UFC fan. I don’t think that any of those guys being fans made any sport too political."

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The NFL has also partnered with America250, including the America250 logo on footballs starting in Week 18 of the 2025 season.

Fox News' Chase Williams and Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Las Vegas tourism continues its slump, with flight passengers down nearly 10% even amid Grand Prix

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:20:24 -0500

Sin City continues to see a tourism slump as flight passenger numbers are down nearly 10%.

In November, there were 3,956,419 domestic travelers passing through Harry Reid International Airport, compared to last November’s 4,338,575 travelers, according to newly released airport data.

The city hosted the Las Vegas Grand Prix last month, which was expected to boost tourism.

LAS VEGAS OFFICIALS WEIGH BANNING CRIMINAL OFFENDERS FROM STRIP TO REVIVE TOURISM

The three-day Las Vegas Grand Prix was sold out, with more than 300,000 fans attending, according to Reuters.

Emily Prazer, CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, told Reuters the organization was proud of the sold-out event.

"We elevated the guest experience at every turn and created iconic cultural moments that could only happen in Las Vegas, all while staying firmly rooted in what matters most — the race," said Prazer.

The event faced some controversy, with racing star Max Verstappen describing the race as something that was "99% show and 1% sporting event."

"I just like to always focus on the performance side of things. I don’t like all the things around it anyway. I know, of course, in some places they are part of it, but let’s say it’s not in my interest," said the Red Bull driver.

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International visitors to Vegas were also down in November, with 239,500 tourists compared to 303,834 tourists last year.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) held a board of directors meeting over the summer to address the tourism decline, highlighting the lower number of international visitors.

Steve Hill, LVCVA president, reportedly spoke about the effect that tariffs have had on both returning and potential new visitors.

"Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism," said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas.

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Hill added, "Our international visitation is flat but is making up for a 20+% drop in tourism from Canada, which is our largest international source of visitation."

Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens previously told Fox News Digital that international tourism is down across an array of locations.

"I think everyone is in a position where you can say we're missing some of our Canadian friends who aren't visiting this year," said Stevens.

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Stevens said he believes the lack of international visitors right now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates.

Rick Harrison of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas previously told Fox News Digital he remains hopeful tourism would pick up, but acknowledged the city hasn't been getting as many visitors as it once did.

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"I’d say probably 40% to 50% of the people I get are international," said Harrison.

"But a big part of it is, we're not getting the Asian tourists [right now]," he added.

Fox News Digital's Chantz Martin, plus Reuters, contributed reporting.

IndyCar driver Conor Daly rips fellow racer after hard racing leads to nasty wreck: 'It's inexcusable'

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:21:50 -0400

IndyCar driver Conor Daly was involved in a horrifying crash during the Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday afternoon.

Daly was in an aggressive battle with Christian Rasmussen for a few laps early in the race. The two made contact on Lap 13 and then made contact again on Lap 15. However, Daly took the brunt of the last touch and was sent crashing into the safety barrier several feet off the track.

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He pinned the blame on Rasmussen.

"I saw him drive Colton (Herta) almost into the wall on the back straight," Daly said, via Indy Star. "He was quite slow, so I tried to pass him into (Turn) 7. He drove himself off the track to make sure I drove off the track. Not sure of the point of that. It's stupid, in my opinion.

"He was really slow down the straight, and I just passed him, and then he just never stopped. It's a dangerous corner to try to do that. I would (say) that was an unsafe move. I don't understand it."

Rasmussen disagreed with Daly’s assessment of the wreck.

"Well, I think that's what you can expect to happen if you try to roll the outside in Turn 10, which is obviously the quickest corner on the track together with me being alongside him," he said.

WHO IS ALEX PALOU? INDY 500 CHAMP ON SUSHI, OWNING A COFFEE SHOP & NEEDING SLEEP

"So like, I don't know if he just expected me to pull out of it ... I'm on the inside, so I wasn't going to pull out. Obviously the race control saw it the same way, so I don't know. Not much more to add to it."

Rasmussen did take some of the blame, admitting that his wheel touched his side.

Daly took one more shot at Rasmussen on social media before the day was finished.

"Purposefully wrecking someone in a 150mph corner is just pure insanity. That’s not racing. It’s inexcusable. The driving standards, for some, are a joke right now. That means you (Rasmussen)," he wrote on X.

Rasmussen finished in 12th, and Daly was 26th.

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Alex Palou finished in third place, wrapping up an IndyCar championship. Will Power won the race.

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Mexican IndyCar driver 'caught off guard' by ICE's 'Speedway Slammer' post on social media

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:39:06 -0400

The Department of Homeland Security posted an AI-generated photo of an ICE-sponsored IndyCar this week, and it caught the eyes of some of IndyCar's officials and one of its top drivers.

The post was captioned "The Speedway Slammer" and depicted a jailhouse behind a car on the track.

The car's number was 5, the same as Pato O'Ward's car. The 26-year-old was born in Monterrey, Mexico.

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"It caught a lot of people off guard. Definitely caught me off guard," O’Ward said Wednesday. "I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and, you know, of what it means. ... I don’t think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least."

"We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of yesterday’s announcement," IndyCar said in a statement Wednesday. "Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our IP not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter."

O'Ward said he didn't see the post until a friend texted him about it.

"I haven’t really read into it too much because I don’t think I want to," he said.

INDYCAR CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT WORKS JUST FINE, DESPITE ALEX PALOU'S DOMINANCE

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a separate post, used "SpeedwaySlammer" when announcing the new partnership with the state of Indiana to expand detention space by 1,000 beds. Indiana is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is where the IndyCar Series is based.

O'Ward is second in points, though Àlex Palou could clinch the IndyCar season title as early as this weekend in Portland. O'Ward was in Texas to promote next year's inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington.

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That race, March 15, will be on a 2.7-mile layout that circles the home stadiums of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and MLB's Texas Rangers. O'Ward threw a ceremonial first pitch before the Rangers' game against the New York Yankees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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IndyCar NXT drivers get involved in terrifying crash

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:56:24 -0400

An IndyCar NXT race on Sunday at Mid-Ohio was the scene of a horrific crash between Ricardo Escotto and Sebastian Murray.

Escotto and Murray were racing into Turn 4 on Lap 4 when Escotto’s right front wheel touched Murray’s left rear wheel. Murray spun around in front of Escotto and hit the wall at a terrifying rate of speed. Murray’s vehicle did a backflip before coming to a stop.

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IndyCar NXT officials waved the red flag to pause the race. Both Andretti drivers appeared to be OK after getting checked out at the infield care center.

"It was super unfortunate. I’m not really sure what happened," Murray said afterward. "I’m just glad that everyone’s OK. Obviously, apologies to the team. It’s been a good weekend so far and we were hoping to make our way up but things happen. We’ll move forward."

Escotto was not pleased with Murray and called the crash a "very scary one."

SCOTT DIXON GETS WIN AT HONDA INDY 200 IN MID-OHIO AFTER ALEX PALOU'S MISTAKE

"Just frustrated and very angry. It took me a lot to be contained and try to calm me down," he said. "It was a very unfortunate incident, especially having my teammate beside me. It’s bad we were in this situation because, at the end of the day, we shouldn’t be racing like that. We were on the straight and he moved and obviously made contact like that.

"Our racing is very close, very close margins, and if you make a mistake like that, it just comes to this."

Dennis Hauger won the race, the fifth of the season.

Murray is 10th and Escotto is 13th in the IndyCar NXT standings.

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IndyCar NXT is the developmental series for drivers hoping to race IndyCar one day.

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IndyCar star Josef Newgarden flips in terrifying crash at WWT Raceway

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:44:50 -0400

IndyCar drivers Josef Newgarden and Louis Foster were in a dangerous crash on Sunday during the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology (WTT) Raceway in Madison, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis.

The incident occurred about midway through the race when Foster lost control of his vehicle in the corner and collided with the wall. He spun around as he came down the track on the frontstretch. Newgarden had nowhere to go and could not avoid Foster.

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As Newgarden drove into Foster, he got airborne and flipped over in a terrifying crash. He landed on his roof and slid down the track. IndyCar safety officials immediately jumped over the barrier that separated the track from pit road to check on him.

Foster spoke to FOX Sports about the wreck after he was released from the infield care center.

"I got a bit of a wiggle ... got a bit too high and went into the marbles," Foster said. "I just couldn’t stop the car from spinning and, obviously, a pretty scary impact with myself and Josef. I’m glad he is OK."

WILL POWER OPENS UP ABOUT INFAMOUS PLOWER MOVE: 'I JUST WANT IT TO GO AWAY'

Newgarden declined to speak after the incident.

Kyle Kirkwood won the race, picking up his second consecutive win and third of the season. Only he and Alex Palou have won races on the IndyCar circuit this season.

Palou still holds the lead in the IndyCar standings, just 73 points over Pato O’Ward and 75 points ahead of Kirkwood.

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Newgarden is in 16th and Foster is in 24th.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Indy 500 winner Alex Palou pumps brakes on possible F1 move

Wed, 28 May 2025 11:25:01 -0400

Alex Palou is on top of the open-wheel racing world as he won Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 for the first time in his career and notched his fifth win in six IndyCar races this season.

Palou appeared to be cemented in his IndyCar seat for the foreseeable future as he made clear that joining Formula 1 wasn’t in the cards.

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"(F1) is not calling me anymore. I still follow it. It’s a huge series. It’s amazing. I’m a big fan, but I don’t think they’re having as much fun as I’m having here," Palou told the Indy Star.

"I don’t see people celebrating with their wives and their kids as much as we do. I don’t see them hanging in the bus lot or having dinner with their mechanics. I only enjoy driving and having fun and being with my people, so I think (F1) is the total opposite."

Palou dipped his toe in the F1 waters in 2022 when he signed with McLaren’s Testing of Previous Cars program. He was then named a reserve driver for the 2023 season but never raced in an official event.

CONOR DALY ADMITS TO PERFORMING GROSS ACT WHILE WAITING FOR INDY 500 TO BEGIN

He participated in four races in Formula 2 in 2017 and drove full time in Formula 3 in 2018, finishing in seventh in the drivers’ championship.

Palou joined IndyCar in 2020 with Dale Coyne Racing. He moved to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021. He’s won the IndyCar championship three times and is in line for a fourth.

After the Indy 500 win, Ganassi called him the "best driver."

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"I think he’s one of the greats. It’s that simple," Ganassi said. "Certainly we’ve had some great drivers on our team, and he’s right there, at worst, shoulder-to-shoulder with all the rest of them."

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Conor Daly admits to performing gross act while waiting for Indy 500 to begin

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:42:34 -0400

Conor Daly’s race team got a bit more than they bargained for at the Indianapolis 500 over the weekend as the IndyCar driver copped to a gross act on Monday night during the victory banquet.

The Indy 500 was delayed nearly an hour because of rain. Drivers were forced to sit in their cars on the frontstretch until officials gave them the all-clear to begin racing. Because of the delay, Daly said he just could not hold his urine in anymore.

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"I want to thank my mechanics specifically, because there’s been a lot of talk tonight and I saw on the internet as well – a lot of toilet talk and maybe some using of the bathroom," Daly said. "We had to wait a long time before the race. Never in my life have I urinated in my race car until Sunday.

"I was sitting on the grid, and I was like, ‘This is the best car I’ve ever been in, in my whole life. I’m gonna have to pee in this thing.’ I kid you not, I legitimately urinated in my race car before the race even started."

Daly said he had to go "really bad" and admitted he sat through the entire race in his own urine. He said he "came clean" with his mechanics after the race was over.

INDY 500 RUNNER-UP MARCUS ERICSSON, OTHERS PUSHED TO REAR FOLLOWING FAILED POST-RACE INSPECTION

"It was an embarrassing moment. I didn’t think I’d have to get there. (James) Hinchcliffe told me about that once but, anyway, now you guys all know."

Daly finished eighth after starting out in 11th. The Juncos Hollinger Racing driver led 13 laps and appeared to have one of the quickest vehicles on the track.

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However, it was Alex Palou who got the last laugh and won the race for the first time in his career.

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Indy 500 runner-up Marcus Ericsson, others pushed to rear following failed post-race inspection

Mon, 26 May 2025 22:00:24 -0400

Marcus Ericsson's Andretti Global car did not pass post-race technical inspection.

Ericsson, who finished behind Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou on Sunday, was subsequently pushed to the rear of the 33-car field. Ericsson was stripped of his runner-up finish and was moved to 31st place.

Fellow Andretti Global teammate Kyle Kirkwood's car also failed inspection. As a result, Kirkwood was relegated to the 32nd spot. He initially finished the race in sixth place.

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"We are in receipt of the Indianapolis 500 Post-Race Notice as provided by IndyCar," Andretti Global said in a statement. "We are taking the necessary time to assess the information and we will be requesting a full review with IndyCar."

MARCUS ERICSSON AMONG THE ‘HEARTBROKEN’ AFTER INDY 500: 'MORE THAN JUST A RACE'

IndyCar said the modifications made by Andretti Global were to the Energy Management System covers provided by Dallara, the company that provides the chassis for the series. The rulebook states that those parts must be used as supplied.

Being moved to the rear of the field also resulted in the loss of Ericsson's and Kirkwood's prize money and the championship points from their original finishes. Both drivers will instead receive the money and points associated with their penalized finish.

Each car was also fined $100,000, and the competition managers for the teams have been suspended for the upcoming race on the streets of Detroit.

It was an incredibly costly swing for Andretti as the Indy 500 purse this year was a record $20,283,000, with winner Palou set to receive $3.8 million. Ericsson will receive $610,500 for finishing 31st when he could have earned up to $1 million in second.

Kirkwood is set to earn $607,500 after being credited for the 32nd finish.

"We had a great race, we came across the line in sixth," Kirkwood said. "We’ll go through the (review) process, and this team is built on sportsmanship. They are built on integrity, and we’ll try to do everything right in the future."

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The disqualifications changed the podium finishing order, with David Malukas of A.J. Foyt Racing moving up to second and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren moving up to third. For the Foyt team, combined with Santino Ferrucci’s adjusted fifth-place finish, it marked the best Indy 500 finish in 25 years for the team.

The No. 90 car of Callum Ilott also failed post-race technical inspection after it failed to meet the minimum endplate height and location specification. Prema Racing was handed the same penalties as Andretti Global, which means rather than 12th, Ilott will be credited with finishing last in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Indy 500 broadcast garners millions of viewers as Alex Palou wins for 1st time

Mon, 26 May 2025 16:39:16 -0400

More than 7 million viewers tuned in to watch Alex Palou win the first Indianapolis 500 of his career over the weekend, FOX Sports announced on Monday.

The race garnered 7.05 million viewers, FOX Sports said, citing Nielsen fast national ratings. The company added that it had 8.4 million viewers at its peak between 4 p.m. ET and 4:15 p.m. ET.

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It was the most-watched Indianapolis 500 in 17 years, according to FOX Sports. The last Indy 500 to draw comparable viewership was the 2008 race, which garnered an audience of 7.245 million. FOX Sports said viewership was up 40% from last year’s race.

It was the first year FOX broadcast the Indianapolis 500.

INDY 500 POLE-SITTER CRASHES INTO CREW MEMBERS ON PIT ROAD: 'REALLY SCARY'

Palou passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go in the race and held him and the rest of the pack at bay to win the race. It was the fifth win of the 2025 season for Palou and the first time a Spaniard had won the Indy 500.

Palou started the race in sixth position on the second row on the outside of Scott Dixon and next to Felix Rosenqvist. He needed to work hard to get to the front as persistent droplets of rain and several caution flags came out, which could have halted his momentum at any time.

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As the race came down to the end, he got his opportunity to move around Ericsson. He had some lap traffic in front of him, but they didn’t appear to hinder Palou’s ability to win at all. For Palou, it was jubilation down the frontstretch with the anticipation of kissing the bricks and some ice-cold milk to cool him off after the grueling event.

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Indy 500 pole-sitter crashes into crew members on pit road: 'Really scary'

Mon, 26 May 2025 10:24:25 -0400

IndyCar rookie Robert Shwartzman’s Indianapolis 500 came to an unfortunate end on Sunday.

Shwartzman started the race on the pole as he completed the quickest time around Indianapolis Motor Speedway in qualifying, but all the jubilation turned to pain as a debacle on pit road nearly seriously injured a handful of his crew members.

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He came into his pit stall after completing about 87 laps, and his car skidded as he got into the box. Four of his crew members tried to avoid the sliding car but failed. One crew member was taken away on a stretcher.

"I honestly felt really strange brakes when I was coming slow in pit lane. I locked up both front tires, which usually isn't the case," Shwartzman said. "I wasn't sure if it was the brakes or because the tires were cold. I tried to be very slow. But as soon as I touched my brakes, my whole front was lost, and I went right into the guys.

"It was really scary because at the moment I braked I was just a passenger."

INDYCAR DRIVER SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN TALKS INDY 500 DISASTER

The crash was enough to end his day.

The Prema Racing driver was the first rookie to take the pole position since 1983.

"It's just really sad because we did such good work in qualifying," he said. "But it's the Indy 500. Anything can happen. A lot of strong drivers are out of the race or behind. This is the Indy 500. This happens."

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Alex Palou took home the checkered flag. It was his first win in the Indy 500 and the fifth in the first six races of the 2025 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin talks Indy 500 disaster

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:13:55 -0400

Scott McLaughlin had one of the toughest Indianapolis 500 moments in recent memory on Sunday.

Drivers were commanded to start their engines and were off the frontstretch getting ready to race as trickles of rain delayed the race for nearly an hour. McLaughlin and others warmed up their tires to get ready to go green.

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As McLaughlin drove down into Turn 1, his vehicle lost grip for a split second, and he started to spin. He hit the wall, damaging his vehicle and ultimately costing him his day.

"We have another race next week, but this race is everything to us," he told FOX Sports after the race was over. "I didn’t even see the green flag.

"My heart is broken. Not good."

He also expressed his lament in a post on X.

KYLE LARSON'S ATTEMPT AT 'DOUBLE' COMES TO END AS HE WRECKS AT INDY 500

"I’d never wish this feeling on my worst enemy."

It was McLaughlin’s worst finish in the Indy 500. He was sixth last year and had some hope going into the event that he could pull off an incredible upset despite a scary practice crash. He was set to start the race in 10th.

All of it went out the window before the race even truly began.

"I really have no idea what happened," he told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little coming out of the infield care center. "Just really upset for my team. They built me a fantastic car again. I’m really sorry to my sponsors, to my fans, my family. I don’t know what happened.

"I can’t believe we’re out of the race. I had so much hope today. Yeah, probably the worst moment of my life."

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McLaughlin is seventh in the IndyCar standings.

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IndyCar star Pato O'Ward sounds off on Indy 500 after 4th-place finish

Mon, 26 May 2025 08:44:24 -0400

IndyCar star Pato O’Ward sounded off about the Indianapolis 500 after Alex Palou passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go to win the race for the first time in his career.

The Arrow McLaren driver took issue with the lack of fight from Ericsson when Palou passed him for the lead late in the race, as well as how some of the restarts took place.

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"Pretty crap race I would say. Just kinda sucks that it went down to -- the switcheroo was for the last position of the race and Ericsson actually kinda choked there and let Palou by and just kind of … he just had to pedal it there," he told FOX Sports. "I don’t think it’s a finish anybody here woulda wanted to see.

"I just feel like there was a bunch of non-experience in the front of the restarts and some of those restarts were pathetic. Those were not of the level that we should be seeing at the Indy 500. It just felt like we were playing roulette in a casino and picking outside or inside and just depending on what everyone else was choosing you either got screwed or you made like 10 positions."

TOM BRADY TAKES INDY 500 LAP WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON BEFORE RACE BEGINS

O’Ward finished in fourth place after starting the race in third.

"We got hosed there a couple times but we made it back up a little bit after being a bit more in the middle," he said. "I fought my way as hard as I could."

There were 44 laps run under caution, starting from the very beginning as rain plagued part of the race and then started with a Scott McLaughlin crash before the green flag waves.

On the first green-flag lap, Marco Andretti crashed into the wall.

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However, the race featured 22 lead changes among 14 drivers. It was Palou who ended up in the winner’s circle by the time the race was over.

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