NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, designated as commander of the Artemis II mission, participated in a demonstration event before the start of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race, which took place in Washington on August 23, 2026. Wiseman took the passenger seat in a two-seater IndyCar driven by professional racing driver Conor Daly. The joint ride allowed the astronaut to experience one of the fastest automobiles in motorsports. A photo of the preparation for the ride was published by NASA, with photographer Joel Kowsky. The astronaut's participation in the motorsports event highlights the connection between extreme activities that require high concentration and physical fitness, whether it's space flights or high-speed racing. The Artemis II mission, which Wiseman will lead, will be an important milestone in NASA's program to return humans to the Moon—for the first time since the Apollo missions, a crew will travel in a lunar orbit with a subsequent return to Earth. Such public events featuring NASA astronauts help popularize the space program and draw public attention to the agency's achievements ahead of the upcoming crewed missions.