- The race was a logistical beast — 1,350 pages of permits, hundreds of law‑enforcement personnel (including 500+ National Guard) and thousands of concrete barriers to turn Pennsylvania, Constitution and Independence Avenues into a 1.7‑mile track.
- Massive interest and crowds: organizers expect about 140,000 fans per day after 288,000 ticket requests, with many attendees coming from outside the D.C. area and separate inside/outside‑perimeter viewing areas.
- A lavish, one‑off spectacle: Penske spent well over $35 million on the event — three‑story temporary suites (with toilets on every floor), repurposed barriers, and a quirky race start (the president likely waving the green from a bulletproof suite) to mark the 250th anniversary.
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