{
  "id": 2668326,
  "title": "IndyCar Freedom 250 starting lineup: Alex Palou claims pole in Washington D.C.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/indycar-freedom-250-starting-lineup-alex-palou-claims-pole-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T22:35:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motorsport.com",
    "slug": "motorsport-com",
    "url": "https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/indycar-freedom-250-starting-lineup-alex-palou-claims-pole-in-washington-dc/10848443/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing claimed pole position for Sunday's Freedom 250 Grand Prix at the 1.7-mile, 7-turn temporary street circuit in Washington D.C. The four-time Indianapolis 500 champion posted a blistering lap time of 56.899 seconds during the Fast Six qualifying session. Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin secured the second spot, just 0.7207 seconds behind Palou. Kyle Kirkwood, the fastest driver in the Round of 12, qualified third, followed by Meyer Shank Racing's Marcus Armstrong, Team Penske's David Malukas, and Christian Rasmussen from Ed Carpenter Racing. The final transfer spot went to Rasmussen, edging out O'Ward by 0.1151 seconds.",
  "summary": "Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou stormed to pole for Sunday’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix. The reigning, four-time IndyCar Series champion went out second in the Fast Six and delivered a stout flying lap of 56.899s at the 1.7-mile, 7-turn temporary street circuit to claim pole position. It marks Palou’s seventh pole of the season, and first since Road America in June. Kyle Kirkwood, who ... Keep…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}