After months of build-up and anticipation, we now know who will lead the field to green in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
That honor — in what could be the only running of this race — goes to four-time series champion Alex Palou.
After an interesting day of practice that saw drivers familiarizing themselves with the tricky, seven-corner Freedom 250 Grand Prix Circuit around the streets of Washington, D.C., it was time to bolt on some red alternate Firestone tires for some high-speed runs.
In the first group — which had some serious heavy-hitters in it — several drivers clipped the wall, including Marcus Ericsson, Rinus VeeKay and Will Power.
The big stunner was Ed Carpenter Racing's Alexander Rossi, who made an early exit after looking solid all day long.
Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood topped the group with a 56.773, followed by Meyer Shank Racing's Marcus Armstrong and Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou, who can clinch a fifth career IndyCar title if he leaves the District of Columbia with a 163-point lead in the standings.
Unusually, the fastest time, which belonged to Team Penske's David Malukas, would not have been fast enough to get into the second round had he been in the first group.
DRIVERS JOSEF NEWGARDEN AND KYLE KIRKWOOD TALK INDYCAR'S 'ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME' FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX
Scott Dixon looked like he was on the verge of topping the group, but his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyffin Simpson brought out a red flag, throwing out Dixon's lap.
In the second round, Kirkwood topped the group with a 56.829 and moved on with Scott McLaughlin, Alex Palou, Marcus Armstrong (who hit the wall out of Turn 7 on his fastest lap), David Malukas and Christian Rasmussen, who turned in a really strong performance to get into the Fast 6, which features single-car qualifying.
All six drivers opted for red alternate tires with Kirkwood's team opting to run first.
On his run, the Jupiter, Florida, native had a moment into Turn 1 but held it together and finished the lap. His 57.466 was well off his fastest times of the day.
Next was Alex Palou, who seemed to have his car on the absolute limit into the first corner, but managed to drop a 56.899, beating Kirkwood by four tenths.
And that was the time that stood.
Palou — with a chance to lock up the title — will start from pole on Sunday alongside Kirkwood in second, followed by McLaughlin and Rasmussen on row 2.
Now it all comes down to a grueling 250 miles around the National Mall.
