D.C.'s IndyCar race will zoom past museums. Some worry it could harm the art inside
Washington D.C. is hosting the Freedom 250 IndyCar race on the National Mall, sparking concerns about potential vibration damage to nearby museums and historical artifacts. While organizers claim safety protocols are in place, some institutions have taken precautionary measures to protect their collections.
Why it matters
The event balances the desire for high-profile public celebrations with the preservation of irreplaceable cultural and historical assets.
More than two dozen IndyCar drivers will race 147 laps around Washington, D.C.'s National Mall this weekend for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, celebrating the country's milestone birthday.
The two-day event includes practices, qualifiers and warmups, culminating in the 250-mile race on Sunday afternoon. Cars will fly — at speeds up to 180 mph — around a 1.7-mile irregularly-shaped track smack-dab on the National Mall.
History How America has celebrated milestone birthdays, from world fairs to the World Cup Along the route, they will zoom past cultural institutions including the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives Building and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space and Hirshhorn Museums.
And that has raised questions about the safety of the art and artifacts inside. Namely: Could they be damaged by vibrations from the cars whizzing by?
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