Washington just shut down its own capital so race cars could hit 190 mph past the Capitol building — and the people who actually live and work there are stuck in the resulting mess. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix takes over the National Mall this weekend, and the contrast between who gets to play and who pays the price couldn't be more stark.
This is the physical manifestation of the two-tier system. Corporate sponsors and connected insiders drop up to $200,000 for luxury suites, according to the New York Post, citing the New York Times. Regular Washingtonians? They get traffic control officers and a suggestion to take Metro. District Department of Transportation Director Sharon Kershbaum admitted the city is struggling: people are getting stuck in intersections, blocking the box, and hitting gridlock on roads pushed beyond capacity because the race course swallowed the main arteries.
The 1.7-mile, seven-turn street course winds through the most heavily traveled corridors in the District. Road closures, restricted access, and parking bans extend well beyond the actual track. The race ends Sunday, but crews have to dismantle the whole operation — Kershbaum said Monday morning is the target for most roads reopening, with curb lanes and parking still constrained. The organizers have incentive to move fast, she noted, because they have another event to set up next.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who hatched the event with Roger Penske and Penske Corporation president Bud Denker, told the New York Post the race will
