IndyCar's Freedom 250 Grand Prix, staged around the streets of Washington, DC to mark 250 years of the United States, drew record television audiences, becoming the most-watched non-Indianapolis 500 race for the series since the Champ Car and IRL merger in 2008. The strong viewership underlines a broader ratings resurgence for IndyCar this season and suggests the novelty of racing past the capital's landmarks paid off commercially as well as spectacularly.

FOX Sports reported 3.282 million viewers for the race, 279% above the average for non-Indy 500 Sunday races, lifting the season average to 1.875 million viewers, up 32% on last year and 70% on 2024. On track, Kyle Kirkwood took the lead from championship leader Alex Palou on the opening lap and held on despite late pressure from Scott McLaughlin and Christian Lundgaard, tightening the title race ahead of a Milwaukee Mile doubleheader and a season-closing road race at Laguna Seca, all three to be broadcast on FOX.