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Alex Palou Quickly Adapts Again to New D.C. Circuit Challenge
Highlights
- Alex Palou topped practice with 56.6145-second lap at D.C. circuit.
- Kyle Kirkwood closely contested pole with 56.6911 seconds in No. 27 car.
- Scott Dixon improved to third; Nolan Siegel and Pato O’Ward follow.
- Track bumps caused crashes for Graham Rahal and Louis Foster.
- Qualifying at 5 p.m. ET; race airs Sunday 11:30 a.m. ET on FOX.
Alex Palou sets the benchmark in second practice at Washington, D.C., clocking 56.6145s in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on Firestone alternates.
The 1.7-mile, seven-turn temporary course threads past historic landmarks; morning conditions were damp, the afternoon dry, while severe bumps in braking zones dictated setup compromises and driving style.
Palou calls the track incredible and super-fun, with the run past the Capitol after Turn 7 adding spectacle; the alternates delivered peak grip on push laps.
Kyle Kirkwood answers with 56.6911s in No. 27 Andretti Global; his 57.3744s from P1 set the tone for a pole fight at this first-ever INDYCAR race in Washington, D.C.
Palou 56.6145s vs Kirkwood 56.6911s — only 0.0766s splits the leaders in P2.
Scott Dixon vaults from 12th to third with 56.8180s in the No. 9 Ganassi Honda, underlining a strong baseline as the top seven sit within three tenths.
Arrow McLaren gains too. Nolan Siegel climbs to fourth on 56.8397s, with Pato O’Ward fifth at 56.8736s; Siegel praises the track’s character despite the bumps.
The bumps bite. Graham Rahal hits the outside wall near Turn 6, while Louis Foster locks a front and scrapes the inside wall. Foster competes with braced thumb and foot.
Rahal and Foster crash after Turn 6 bumps; Foster races with carbon braces on thumb and foot.
Qualifying starts at 5 p.m. ET, with the race live Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET on FOX and INDYCAR Radio. Strategy hinges on cautions, tire fall-off, and fuel windows over 147 laps.
Top seven covered by under 0.3s in second practice — margins are razor-thin on the D.C. streets.
Palou’s speed suggests Ganassi holds a marginal edge, yet Kirkwood maintains pressure. That duel, with Dixon and Arrow McLaren in range, shapes Sunday’s narrative amid INDYCAR’s D.C. history, adding resonance.
Visual Summary
56.6145 sec
Turn 7
Capitol View
Street King Palou ⚡ shatters D.C. circuit with record lap
1st-ever INDYCAR D.C. | Top 7 within 0.3s
Palou vs. Kirkwood:
(Practice Best)
💥
Bumps Strike!
Turn 6 claims cars: Rahal, Foster crash out.
Bumps Strike!
Turn 6 claims cars: Rahal, Foster crash out.
Clash of champions looms for D.C. pole
Sunday: 147 laps. 250 miles. History at stake.
Live on FOX One / INDYCAR Radio (11:30 a.m. ET)
Live on FOX One / INDYCAR Radio (11:30 a.m. ET)
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
