BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M University is bringing its message — and its signature maroon — to the nation’s capital this weekend, partnering with an IndyCar team for a high-speed showcase during America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
The Aggie Maroon car will hit speeds of more than 200 mph Sunday at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., capping a season-long motorsports partnership between Texas A&M, Meyer Shank Racing and Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist.
“It’s a national event during America’s 250th anniversary in the nation’s capital, big national television audience,” said Ethan Braden, Texas A&M’s vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. “Texas A&M has a national story to tell.”
Braden said the partnership highlights the university’s work in engineering, national security, energy and data.
The race features 25 of IndyCar’s top drivers on a street circuit along Independence Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, with roughly 140,000 fans expected onsite — out of an estimated 380,000 who wanted tickets — plus a large national TV audience. Drivers will run 250 laps and make four pit stops before a champion is crowned.
Texas A&M’s car is painted Aggie maroon with red, white and blue accents. The front wing reads “Together We Stand,” the back reads “A Force for Good,” and the aero screen says “Serving Texas and the Nation.”
“That’s really a car about our essence of the brand platform,” Braden said. “Together we stand as a force for good — the service, the impact, the community, the spirit that Aggies bring to the state of Texas and all over the nation and beyond.”
That same message anchors a new two-minute brand film, “Working Together for the Good of the Nation,” featuring Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and Texas A&M alumnus Lyle Lovett performing a newly recorded rendition of “Let’s Work Together.” The film, released today on Texas A&M’s YouTube channel, will make its national television debut as a commercial during Sunday’s broadcast.
Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist will be behind the wheel of the No. 60 Honda. He finished sixth in IndyCar points last season and fourth in last year’s Indianapolis 500. This past May, he won the Indianapolis 500 in the closest finish in 110 years of the race — with Texas A&M branding on his car, fire suit and helmet.
“He’s a wonderful guy. He’s an incredible advocate for Texas A&M University,” Braden said. “He says he’s a Swede, but he says the only thing that’s more American than he is the bald eagle.”
Braden also praised racing partner Meyer Shank Racing: “They’ve been terrific partners to us. There’s just a lot of cohesion and synergy in going to the track with them.”
Despite the marketing spotlight, Braden said the race itself is no exhibition. “This is serious. They’ll be doing 200 miles an hour. Lives are at stake,” he said. “These guys want to win, and the championship’s on the line. So it’s just a great place for Texas A&M to show up. Really rare air for a university to be in.”
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. airs Sunday on Fox, with coverage starting at 10:30 a.m. Central time and the race set to begin around noon Central time, weather permitting.
“You’ll have the car on the track, but you’ll have our two-minute commercial on the screen at some point during the broadcast as well, which we’re really excited about,” Braden said.
Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.