The NTT IndyCar Series is scheduled to race through the streets of Washington, D.C., in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an event marking the United States' 250th anniversary.

The race is expected to draw significant attention, with many viewers tuning into IndyCar for the first time since the Indianapolis 500 or even for the first time ever.

Alex Palou, driving the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, is considered a favorite heading into the weekend as he aims for his fifth career championship. Palou currently leads the standings by 133 points. Despite a poor qualifying run that placed him 11th in the previous race in Markham, Ontario, he still managed a fourth-place finish. Palou is a four-time series champion and won the 2025 Indy 500.

Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global, in the No. 27 Honda, sits second in the championship standings. Kirkwood has a strong record on street circuits, with five of his six IndyCar wins coming on such courses. Earlier this season, he secured wins at Long Beach and Detroit, as well as Arlington. Kirkwood is looking to rebound after a difficult previous race where he qualified 22nd and crashed out early.

David Malukas, in his first season with Team Penske driving the No. 12 Chevrolet, is currently third in the championship standings. The 24-year-old has shown strong performance, stepping into a role previously held by Will Power. He is seeking his first IndyCar win.

Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren is another driver to watch. O'Ward, a consistent contender on various track types, is trailing his teammate Christian Lundgaard in the standings and race wins. O'Ward is scheduled to be the only driver from the current Arrow McLaren lineup to return in 2027, when Felix Rosenqvist and Scott Dixon will join the team.

Six-time champion Scott Dixon is facing what could be his first winless season since 2004. Dixon, who is leaving Chip Ganassi Racing after 25 years to join Arrow McLaren in 2027, is looking for a final win with his long-time team. The combination of Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing has historically been a strong one, with the pairing frequently in contention.

Pre-race coverage for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, with the race starting at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.