Drivers Josef Newgarden and Kyle Kirkwood talk IndyCar's 'once-in-a-lifetime' Freedom 250 Grand Prix
The centerpiece of the NTT IndyCar Series is the Indianapolis 500, nicknamed "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
But the series is gearing up for what might be its biggest spectacle ever to hit the streets, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, which will see America's premier open-wheel series racing past some of the country's most iconic landmarks.
Team Penske's Josef Newgarden and Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood stopped by Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday, along with Fox Sports IndyCar commentator Will Buxton, to talk about the once-in-a-lifetime event.
"It's going to be absolutely incredible — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see IndyCars racing around the nation's capital," Buxton said. "I'm a student of history, okay? The automobile was invented in 1886. The first-ever auto race in America (happened in) 1895. The first Indianapolis 500 happened just 16 years later. That means that for over one-half of this great nation's history, car culture and, more particularly, auto racing has been right at the very heart of what makes this country great. We're here to celebrate America's 250th birthday with a once-in-a-lifetime race around Washington, DC."
Newgarden, driver of the No. 2 Chevrolet for Team Penske, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and a two-time series champion, echoed the need to embrace something that the series may never get to do again.
"I don't know when we're going to have an opportunity to race in our nation's capital again with an IndyCar," he said. "So, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Want to go out there and win with our team — with Team Penske — and obviously represent the country."
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Kirkwood, driver of Andretti Global's No. 27 Honda, is currently second in the championship standings and always a threat when the series travels to a street circuit.
"This has been going on for many, many months, setting up the track, which is on down Pennsylvania (Avenue), around the museums, and then (goes) right by the Capitol. It's going to be a beautiful backdrop," Kirkwood said. "Suites are incredible; 100,000 people on both days out there to see the event. We can't wait, as drivers. It's going to be awesome.
Practice gets Saturday morning underway, with qualifying slated for early that evening.
The Grand Prix gets underway at 1 p.m. ET, with pre-race coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. on FOX.