{"id":24694,"date":"2026-08-23T00:02:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T00:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=24694"},"modified":"2026-08-23T00:02:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T00:02:44","slug":"alex-palou-takes-pole-for-the-freedom-250-grand-prix-with-a-chance-to-lock-up-the-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=24694","title":{"rendered":"Alex Palou takes pole for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix with a chance to lock up the championship"},"content":{"rendered":"


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After months of build-up and anticipation, we now know who will lead the field to green in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

That honor \u2014 in what could be the only running of this race \u2014 goes to four-time series champion Alex Palou.<\/p>\n

After an interesting day of practice that saw drivers familiarizing themselves with the tricky, seven-corner Freedom 250 Grand Prix Circuit around the streets of Washington, D.C., it was time to bolt on some red alternate Firestone tires for some high-speed runs.<\/p>\n

HERE ARE 5 DRIVERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON AS INDYCAR HITS THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON FOR FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Alex<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
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Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou will lead the field to green in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.<\/span> (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In the first group \u2014 which had some serious heavy-hitters in it \u2014 several drivers clipped the wall, including Marcus Ericsson, Rinus VeeKay and Will Power.<\/p>\n

The big stunner was Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi, who made an early exit after looking solid all day long.<\/p>\n

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood topped the group with a 56.773, followed by Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, who can clinch a fifth career IndyCar title if he leaves the District of Columbia with a 163-point lead in the standings.<\/p>\n

Unusually, the fastest time, which belonged to Team Penske’s David Malukas, would not have been fast enough to get into the second round had he been in the first group.<\/p>\n

DRIVERS JOSEF NEWGARDEN AND KYLE KIRKWOOD TALK INDYCAR’S ‘ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME’ FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott Dixon looked like he was on the verge of topping the group, but his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyffin Simpson brought out a red flag, throwing out Dixon’s lap.<\/p>\n

In the second round, Kirkwood topped the group with a 56.829 and moved on with Scott McLaughlin, Alex Palou, Marcus Armstrong (who hit the wall out of Turn 7 on his fastest lap), David Malukas and Christian Rasmussen, who turned in a really strong performance to get into the Fast 6, which features single-car qualifying.<\/p>\n

All six drivers opted for red alternate tires with Kirkwood’s team opting to run first.<\/p>\n

On his run, the Jupiter, Florida, native had a moment into Turn 1 but held it together and finished the lap. His 57.466 was well off his fastest times of the day.<\/p>\n

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\"Alex<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
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Alex Palou can lock up his fifth career IndyCar title if he leaves Washington, DC, with a 163-point lead in the standings.<\/span> (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Next was Alex Palou, who seemed to have his car on the absolute limit into the first corner, but managed to drop a 56.899, beating Kirkwood by four tenths.<\/p>\n

And that was the time that stood.<\/p>\n

Palou \u2014 with a chance to lock up the title \u2014 will start from pole on Sunday alongside Kirkwood in second, followed by McLaughlin and Rasmussen on row 2.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now it all comes down to a grueling 250 miles around the National Mall.<\/p>\n

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Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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