Trump arrives at high-speed IndyCar race through Washington's streets

ByKwasi Gyamfi Asiedu Reporting fromWashington DC.

Key points

• Organisers of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix say regarding 140, 000 residents are projected to attend, with numerous given free general admission tickets through a lottery.
• The president and First Lady Melania Trump took a ceremonial lap of the 1.7-mile track in his presidential limousine, The Beast.
• With a maximum speed limit of 55mph (89kmh), Washington DC has the lowest speed limit in the United States.
• As well as a fireworks show on 4 July, in other events earlier this summer, Trump hosted an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn.
• The 25 professional drivers competing in the event face 147 laps featuring seven crucial turns, making a total 250-mile course – a nod to the nation's anniversary.

US President Donald Trump has arrived at the IndyCar race through the streets of Washington DC. It marks the culmination of a series of summer events to celebrate the country's 250th birthday.

Notably, the president and First Lady Melania Trump took a ceremonial lap of the 1.7-mile track in his presidential limousine, The Beast.

As they reached the finish line, Trump's new Air Force One completed a flyover above the capital.

In practice, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix is the first time professional road racing has been hosted in the capital.

But at 13: 00 EST (18: 00 BST) on Sunday, some of the world's fastest drivers will zoom past the capital's famous monuments and museums at speeds of up to 190mph (306kmh).

Meanwhile, the 25 professional drivers competing in the event face 147 laps featuring seven crucial turns, making a total 250-mile course – a nod to the nation's anniversary.

In practice, the drivers will speed past the Washington Monument and museums on the National Mall, before passing a finish line with the US Capitol building in frame.

Similar to Formula 1, the IndyCar series is a road race featuring open-wheel, single-seater cars.

But unlike F1, where teams design and build their own cars, the engines in IndyCars come exclusively from Chevrolet or Honda.

Nevertheless, premium packages were selling on Saturday for around $3, 600 for a pair of passes, according to the BBC's US partner CBS.

For context, the event has been a massive logistical and security lift for the city, and has led to widespread road closures, manholes being bolted down, and road resurfacing.

Meanwhile, the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It primarily runs domestic flights, has been under a three-hour airspace closure to accommodate the US military flyover.

In short, trump arrives at high-speed IndyCar race through Washington' s streets is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.