Palou pushes to IndyCar pole for the Freedom 250

Qualifying for the Freedom 250 at Washington, D.C. was anything but boring after multiple drivers hit the wall and one incident ruined the plans for two teammates, and once single-car runs were complete in the run for pole, Alex Palou rocketed to his seventh P1 starting position of the season.

The championship leader flew around the 1.7-mile, seven-turn street course in a mere 56.899s, which was more than a half-second clear of Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Honda (57.466s). Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin took third in the No. 3 Chevy (57.620s) ahead of Christian Rasmussen, who earned a career best fourth in the No. 21 Chevy (57.889s). Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong was fifth in the No. 66 Honda (58.814s), and Penske’s David Malukas was sixth in the No. 12 Chevy after clipping the wall (1m10.670s).

“Incredible,” Palou said. “Such a privilege to be racing here. It’s been packed. My car was on rails. Super fun car to drive. I was leaving everything [out] there.”

Kirkwood was stunned by the separation between his lap and the pole winner.

“The car’s been on rails all weekend,” he said. “Alex Palou is just a legend. He made us look silly out there. I thought I put a stellar lap in, and he goes about six-tenths faster.”

Elsewhere, Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger continued his solid late-season form as the rookie qualified eighth. Fellow rookie Caio Collet also starred, taking 11th for AJ Foyt Racing, and in 12th, Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel also impressed, which he’s been doing on a steady basis throughout summer.

Big names with a lot of passing to complete on Sunday include Will Power in 13th, Scott Dixon in 14th, Marcus Ericsson in 15th, Josef Newgarden in 16th, and recent man-of-the-moment Rinus VeeKay in 19th.

The first stage of knockout qualifying pitted 12 drivers against each other for six transfer spots. VeeKay set the fastest lap before slamming the wall with his right-side suspension and pitting before he was able to bolt on the faster alternate tires.

Markham winner Ericsson also hit the wall and failed to transfer, and then Andretti teammate Power did the same exact thing.

Moving onto the Firestone Fast 12 were Kirkwood with a best lap of 56.772s, Armstrong, Palou, Christian Lundgaard, Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. Done for the day were Power (P13), Ericsson (P15), Alexander Rossi (P17), VeeKay (P19), Romain Grosjean (P21) and Graham Rahal (P23).

The second stage of knockout qualifying managed to produce more drama than the first, as Dixon was on pace to make it inside the six transfer spots on his final lap and join teammate Kyffin Simpson, who sat fifth as the checkered flag waved. But Simpson crashed hard on his final lap, broke the suspension from the car’s right-front corner and brought out a red flag.

The red flag made it impossible for Dixon to complete his flying lap, which prevented his transfer, and thanks to causing the flag, Simpson lost his two fastest laps, so rather than seeing the two Chip Ganassi Racing drivers move onto the Fast 12, both were knocked out by Simpson.

Moving on were Malukas (57.229), Collet, Rasmussen, McLaughlin, Siegel and Hauger. Finished for Saturday were Dixon (P14), Newgarden (P16), Louis Foster (P18), Mick Schumacher (P20), Santino Ferrucci (P22), Sting Ray Robb (P24) and Simpson (P25).

The Firestone Fast 12 was led in a frenetic fight by Kirkwood (56.829s), McLaughlin, Palou, Armstrong, Malukas and Rasmussen, who’d go on to battle for pole. Set for the race were O’Ward (P7), Hauger (P8), Lundgaard (P9), Rosenqvist (P10), Collet (P11) and Siegel (P12).

Kirkwood went first in single-car qualifying and set a 57.466s. Palou was next and delivered a 56.899s. McLaughlin went third and dealt with a car that didn’t inspire confidence as he posted a 57.620s lap. Armstrong was even more adrift on his run that lasted 58.814s. Malukas locked his brakes into Turn 1, lightly tapped the wall and toured slowly to complete the lap of 1m10.670s. Rasmussen was the last to go and set a 57.889s to secure fourth.

The Freedom 250 begins at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.

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