Trump touts IndyCar drivers' 'special' ability at Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase, seemingly ending hot debate

President Donald Trump connected Monday ended the statement implicit whether racecar drivers are athletes arsenic his medication showcased the powerfulness of IndyCar vehicles up of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., adjacent month.

Trump participated successful the Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase astatine the White House on with IndyCar prima Álex Palou, racing squad proprietor Roger Penske and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

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President Donald Trump reacts aft receiving a helmet connected West Executive Drive astatine the White House during a showcase for the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix car contention connected Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Washington. Alex Brandon/AP (Alex Brandon/AP)

"Next period these exceptional sportsman drivers, athletes, they’re large athletes," Trump said. "Nothing cipher tin do. They’re calved with thing special. They’re calved with the quality to property that pedal each the mode down to the ground. Most radical can’t bash that. Very fewer radical can.

"They’re beauteous cars. They’re going to marque state roar. This is going to beryllium a state that’s roaring similar ne'er before."

The showcase besides featured a unrecorded pit stop.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. takes spot Aug. 22 and 23. The way layout features a 1.66-mile thrust and 7 turns.

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Alex Palou, the reigning IndyCar champion, gives President Donald Trump a helmet connected West Executive Drive astatine the White House during a showcase for the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix car contention Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Trump’s declaration comes amid a hotly contested statement successful the racing satellite implicit whether nonrecreational racecar operator are really athletes.

ESPN prima Stephen A. Smith waded into the territory successful April erstwhile a caller connected his vigor amusement suggested that Richard Petty was 1 of the top athletes of each time. He said driving a car doesn’t "count" arsenic being an athlete.

NASCAR greats Jeff Gordon and Kyle Larson pushed backmost connected Smith’s insinuations successful an interrogation with Fox News Digital successful May earlier the Indy 500.

President Donald Trump speaks with Alex Palou, Bud Denker, David Malukas and Roger Penske connected West Executive Drive astatine the White House during a showcase for the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix car contention Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

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Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, challenged Smith, oregon anyone for that matter, to spell 1 thigh successful a contention car "without feeling similar they're going to die."

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.