The race also drew a long list of corporate sponsors, including Boeing, Starlink, Delta, Amazon and Shell. Several have major business interests before the federal government, putting some of the same companies seeking action from Washington front and center at the high-profile event.

The race weekend featured two practice sessions Saturday, followed by qualifying in late afternoon to set the grid, and a warmup Sunday before the Grand Prix.

While officials have previewed the potential for this to become an annual spectacle, IndyCar has no plans to return to Washington for another race.

Ahead of the race, drivers marveled at the spectacular views from inside their helmets. David Malukas told NBC News that seeing Washington’s iconic landmarks could pose a unique challenge for him and other drivers.

“I think out of any track we’ve been to, this is the most distracting, especially coming out from that back straightaway. They’re leading into the Capitol building,” he said.

Malukas crashed one turn later on Lap 37, bringing out the caution flag and causing most of the field to pit for fresh tires. Palou was given a drive-through penalty for a pit stop infringement, ending his hopes of victory. He later hit the wall and broke his front wing, falling to the back.

Bowser estimated attendance at 140,000 for each day of the weekend, selling the event as a way to showcase the city and boost the economy.

But the road closures and disruptions to the city irked plenty of locals, with some of the busiest streets shut down for the weekend, backing up traffic forcing businesses to close. The federal courthouse cancelled all hearings on Friday ahead of the race, and flights in and out of Washington National Airport were paused for several hours to accommodate the flyovers.