'Lighten up a bit': Trump caps US' 250th birthday with IndyCar race in DC

On Sunday, Washington, DC held its very first IndyCar race right in the heart of the city. The event, called the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix, took place around the famous National Mall, near the Smithsonian museums and big government buildings. About 100,000 people attended for free after winning tickets in a lottery. The race was the final big event in a summer of celebrations marking America's 250th birthday.

President Donald Trump was at the race and received loud cheers from many fans in the crowd. Before the race began, his motorcade — including his heavily armored car called 'the Beast' — did a slow lap around the 2.7-kilometer course. Trump also waved the green flag to officially start the race. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the traditional words: 'Gentlemen, start your engines.'

Fans watched 147 laps of racing, and they were also treated to seven military flyovers. One of the planes was a fancy Boeing 747 that the country of Qatar gave to Trump to use as Air Force One. First Lady Melania Trump, who grew up watching Formula 1 racing in Europe, also attended and helped connect the event to her program for young people in foster care, called Fostering the Future. 'It's an incredible day,' she told Fox. 'I loved every minute of it.'

The race was organized by a group called Freedom250, which was set up by the Trump administration to plan patriotic events for America's birthday. It took over from an older group called America250, which Congress had created and which included members from both political parties. Other big events this summer included a UFC fight at the White House, a large state fair, and a record-breaking fireworks show on July 4.

Many fans said they loved the race and the atmosphere. Jeanette Boras, 68, traveled all the way from California with her son just to be there. She had also attended Trump's inauguration and the July 4 celebrations. 'I'm here to support America,' she said. Marlon Cienfuegos, 35, from nearby Maryland, wore his Washington Grand Prix T-shirt and soaked up every moment of the day.

Not everyone was happy, though. Washington, DC is a city where most people do not support Trump, and some residents were unhappy about their streets being turned into a racetrack. Outside one of the subway stations, a group of four women held a protest banner that questioned whether America had truly been free for everyone throughout its 250-year history. One protester, Erika Berg, 68, argued that millions of African Americans were not freed from slavery until 1865, more than 80 years after the country was founded.

Berg said people reacted to her protest in different ways. She said some young men yelled at them, while some people of color quietly thanked them. 'It's truth-telling,' she said. 'I feel like that's what we're doing here today.' Even so, others at the race felt that politics did not belong at a sporting event.

Cienfuegos said he just wanted to enjoy the day and meet new people. He said those who were upset should try talking to strangers and making friends instead. 'Lighten up a little bit,' he said. 'It's a good time.' House Speaker Mike Johnson called the race 'pure Americana' and said DC should host it again next year. Interior Secretary Burgum agreed, saying it was very likely to happen again.