Alex Palou Tops Final Freedom 250 Practice in 56.615 as Turn 6 Triggers 2 Red Flags
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 22
Alex Palou Tops Final Freedom 250 Practice in 56.615 as Turn 6 Triggers 2 Red Flags
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 22
Summary
Alex Palou led the final Washington, DC practice before qualifying with a 56.615 lap on new red alternate tires, edging Kyle Kirkwood’s 56.691 on primaries.
Dry conditions and growing familiarity with the seven-turn street circuit sharply lowered times after an earlier wet session, with Scott McLaughlin briefly setting the pace at 56.895 before the alternate-tire runs.
Turn 6 became the session’s main trouble spot: Graham Rahal spun into the wall and stranded his No. 15 Honda for the first red flag, costing him track time before qualifying.
Louis Foster then hit the same braking-zone bump, damaged his front wing and caused a second red flag, though he returned to the pits for repairs and later got back on track.
The repeated incidents highlighted Turn 6 as a likely flashpoint for both qualifying and Sunday’s Freedom 250 race.