gg2
Alex Palou news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Alex Palou took his seventh IndyCar pole of 2026 for Sunday's Freedom 250 in Washington. A win could clinch his fifth series title with three races left.
Background
Palou, the reigning four-time IndyCar champion, leads the standings by 133 points with four races remaining. The Freedom 250 is a one-off street race on the National Mall, part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. If Palou wins and Kyle Kirkwood finishes ninth or lower, Palou clinches the title.
How it unfolded
- Jul 13, 2026Palou visited the White House and gave President Trump a racing helmet at a Freedom 250 showcase.
- Aug 21, 2026Palou said the race will be 'chaos, passing, crashes' and promised to attack rather than play it safe.
- Aug 22, 2026Palou topped qualifying, securing his seventh pole of the season, with Kyle Kirkwood second.
- Aug 23, 2026Freedom 250 race day; Palou starts from pole with a chance to clinch the championship.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Christian Lundgaard said Palou is 'probably the best INDYCAR driver the series has seen' and won't crack under pressure.
- Caution
- Some note that street courses are chaotic and unpredictable, so a win is not guaranteed despite Palou's dominance.