Freedom 250 drops off 2027 calendar as IndyCar ends Washington stay
Organisers confirmed the Freedom 250 will not return to the IndyCar calendar in 2027, after an edition marked by controversy over cost and the event's ties to the US president.
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A IndyCar não terá segunda visita ao centro de Washington, D.C. Os organizadores do GP Freedom 250 confirmaram na sexta-feira (23), conforme a FOX 5 DC, que a prova não estará no calendário de 2027 — anúncio feito logo depois de a NTT IndyCar Series apresentar sua temporada completa.
Em comunicado, os organizadores lembraram que a corrida foi pensada desde o começo como uma celebração única dos 250 anos do país.
Realizada em agosto, a prova ocupou um traçado de rua de 2,7 km no coração da capital. O presidente Donald Trump deu a bandeira verde, e os carros alcançaram cerca de 320 km/h nas retas da Avenida Pensilvânia, com monumentos nacionais ao fundo. A vitória ficou com Kyle Kirkwood, que liderou 128 das 147 voltas.
O evento também rachou opiniões por causa da proximidade entre a categoria e o presidente. Segundo o Christian Science Monitor, há quem tema que eventos nacionais como esse sirvam a ganho político e pessoal. A ESPN lembrou que Roger Penske, dono da IndyCar, é amigo de Trump. O custo entrou na conta: a Penske afirma ter bancado a maior parte das despesas e nega ter recebido dinheiro da Freedom 250 Commission, mas policiamento, bombeiros e segurança saíram de um fundo público — e o impacto final sobre o contribuinte continua indefinido.
No perímetro urbano, três avenidas centrais — Pensilvânia, Constitution e Independence — foram fechadas por completo. Moradores relataram dificuldade para circular por causa de desvios e barreiras, e, no dia da corrida, o tráfego aéreo do aeroporto Reagan ficou parado por algumas horas em razão dos sobrevoos.
Houve ainda um episódio anterior: em maio, a IndyCar retirou de sua loja online uma camiseta que trazia Abraham Lincoln de capacete e a frase “ONE NATION / ONE RACE”, depois das críticas sobre um possível duplo sentido racista.
Apesar do desgaste, a avaliação da ESPN foi de que até quem chegou desconfiado se divertiu no fim de semana. O veículo apontou o gasto de montar toda a estrutura como provável razão para a corrida não ter sequência.
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