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Palou takes Freedom 250 pole with 56.899-second lap

8/23/2026

43 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Palou Secures Pole

Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) captured pole for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix with a 56.899-second lap.
Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global) qualified second, posting a 57.466-second lap half a second behind Palou.
Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) earned third with a 57.620-second lap.
Palou leads the championship by 133 points and could clinch the title with a 165-point advantage after the race.

Summary

IndyCar Preps

The Secret Service implemented TSA-style screening, requiring clear bags no larger than 12 × 6 × 12 inches.
IndyCar and Penske funded over $35 million for street modifications, welding 200 manhole covers.
Ronald Reagan National Airport halted departures from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on race day.
General admission tickets were free and sold out within minutes, drawing up to 140,000 daily attendees.

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Palou Secures Pole

Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) captured pole for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix with a 56.899-second lap.
Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global) qualified second, posting a 57.466-second lap half a second behind Palou.
Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) earned third with a 57.620-second lap.
Palou leads the championship by 133 points and could clinch the title with a 165-point advantage after the race.

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