Kyle Kirkwood wins IndyCar race in downtown D.C. celebrating U.S. 250th birthday

Reported by NBC News. The paragraphs below are the opening of that article, reproduced word for word — not a summary, and not the whole piece.

WASHINGTON — Blasting down these iconic and bumpy streets with a view of the U.S. Capitol from his car, Florida native Kyle Kirkwood took the checkered flag to win a once-in-a-lifetime IndyCar race on a sunny Sunday.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix was an elaborate 250-mile spectacle with few expenses spared to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial, bringing the city a rare blend of power, money and speed.

Kirkwood, who races for Andretti Global, started second but took the lead on the opening lap with a daring maneuver around the outside of pole-sitter and championship leader Alex Palou in front of the National Archives. From there he proved unbeatable.