Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream to talk about the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix taking place in Washington DC on Sunday.
Secretary Duffy talked about the planning and effort it took to put together the race in the Nation’s Capital.
“You were a key player in actually getting this thing done. I mean, there was a point in which it didn’t look like it was gonna happen,” Bream said.
“The original course would have needed permission from Congress. Couldn’t get it. How close did we come to not having it?” Bream asked.
“That original course was supposed to go around the Capitol, between the Capitol and the Supreme Court, and we were days away because the barriers, as you see around the track, had to be ordered. They are expensive, and they have to be ordered in advance,” Duffy said.
“We had, I think, three or four days left to order them, and if we didn’t get the order in, the event was gonna go down,” Duffy explained.
Secretary Duffy explained he liked the new track they decided on, with the help of Penske Team’s Bud Denker.
“In a snowstorm in DC, it was in January, he came out, he walked the track in the snowstorm,” Duffy said.
“I think this is better. The view of the Capitol behind us,” Duffy said.
“I think this venue is probably better than the original thought anyway,” Duffy continued.
There were other logistical things that had to be dealt with, which included securing manhole covers that were on the race track.
“There is a lot of logistical stuff that has to happen that people may not realize. The Athletic Report says, ‘there are 270 manhole covers on the course that need to be fastened with a special clamp-but 49 are sunken into the ground, which requires them to be filled to the level of the road with a silicone epoxy,’” Bream said.
“How does that get done?” Bream asked.
“So, again, the Penske crew is amazing. They come in and not only secure the manhole covers, but around the manholes and other places, you have different rises and bumps on the roadway. This is a street,” Duffy said.
“They had to actually grind the bumps out to minimize the cars getting any lift as they are going down the street. So, a lot of work to make this track work as best as possible,” Duffy said.
Watch:
WATCH: Transportation @SecDuffy joins Fox News Sunday to talk about the teamwork between DC and the racing world to bring an IndyCar race to the streets of Washington. pic.twitter.com/NTiynZJqtG
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) August 23, 2026
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