National Gallery conducts vibration study ahead of Washington IndyCar Grand Prix

In preparation for the Freedom 250 IndyCar event scheduled for Aug. 23, the National Gallery of Art carried out an extensive vibration assessment to gauge the impact of race-car speeds and vibrations on its premises and nearby museums. Gallery spokesman Chris Abanavas announced that the findings prompted a series of precautionary actions to protect employees, visitors, the collection and the facilities, though the exact measures remain confidential.

The study concluded that the gallery’s structural soundness would not be compromised, and the Smithsonian Institution similarly assured that its artifacts would not suffer damage. Penske Corporation, the owner of IndyCar, financed a resurfacing project to meet safety standards for the 1.7-mile, seven-turn downtown circuit. The race, part of the city’s semiquincentennial celebrations, has attracted massive public interest, with 288,000 ticket requests following an initial release of 100,000 free tickets.