The National Mall became a racetrack Saturday, with two practice sessions, qualifying and a pair of exhibition races on a temporary 1.7-mile, seven-turn circuit that passes the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives and the Washington Monument. Kyle Kirkwood set the fastest practice lap at 57.3744 seconds, an average of 106.668 mph.
“Very bumpy, huge bumps heading into Turn 2 and Turn 6,” Alex Palou said after the morning session, according to the Associated Press. “Massive bumps that are going to spice things up.”
Jeff Gordon, the NASCAR champion, won the first of two exhibition races that put drivers from different series in identical cars. Before the weekend, crews welded the course’s manhole covers shut, more than 200 of them, because cars at these speeds can pull them out of the street, ABC News reported.
Sunday’s race runs 147 laps, the capital’s first major auto race in more than two decades. Organizers expected about 140,000 people each day. Three Smithsonian museums and the National Archives restricted entry to ticketholders for the weekend, and the National Gallery of Art’s East Building closed entirely on Sunday.
Caio Collet, driver of the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet, competes in qualifying. (Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(Anadolu via Getty Images)
Christian Lundgaard, driver of the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, on track Saturday. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
(Finn Gomez via Getty Images)
Lundgaard prepares to go back out, with the Capitol beyond the circuit. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
(Finn Gomez via Getty Images)
The Capitol dome above the circuit on Saturday, a day before the race. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)
(KENT NISHIMURA via Getty Images)
Fans cheer during Saturday’s practice session. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
(Tom Williams via Getty Images)
Romain Grosjean, driver of the No. 14 for Dale Coyne Racing, passes the National Archives during qualifying. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)
(KENT NISHIMURA via Getty Images)
Jeff Gordon drives a Pontiac Firebird on 3rd Street during the International Race of Champions exhibition. He won it. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
(Tom Williams via Getty Images)
Spectators fill the grandstand for the first International Race of Champions exhibition. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)
(KENT NISHIMURA via Getty Images)
