Palou, Kirkwood Secure Front Row for Honda in DC IndyCar Qualifying

Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood secured the top two starting positions for Honda at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC qualifying on August 23, 2026. This performance marks a front-row lockout for Honda on the streets of the nation's capital, with Palou claiming his seventh pole position of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The event, held around the National Mall, saw Honda drivers continue their strong showing in street circuit races this year.

Qualifying Highlights and Championship Implications

Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, achieved his seventh pole position of the current season. He is currently leading the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings by 133 points and is pursuing his fifth title in six years. Palou has already secured six victories this season at St. Petersburg, Barber, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Detroit, Nashville, and Portland.

Andretti Global Honda's Kyle Kirkwood qualified second, securing the other front-row spot. Kirkwood, who won the season's inaugural street circuit event at the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, is aiming to maintain his championship hopes.

Other notable Honda-powered qualifiers included Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing Honda, who qualified fifth, and Dennis Hauger from Dale Coyne Racing Honda, who will start eighth. Marcus Ericsson, driving an Acura-sponsored Andretti Global machine, qualified 15th after an incident during the first round.

Honda's Street Circuit Dominance

Honda teams and drivers have demonstrated strong performance on street circuits throughout the 2026 season, winning every such event to date. The manufacturer is aiming for a complete sweep of street circuit races this year, building on a record of winning every inaugural street circuit event since multi-manufacturer competition resumed in 2012.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC also marks the fourth appearance of Acura branding in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this season. This event commemorates both 250 years of American history and the 40th anniversary of the Acura brand, which was established in 1986.

Race Day Information

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC is scheduled to air on Sunday, August 24, 2026, at 1 PM ET on Fox. A pre-race show will precede the main event, starting at 11:30 AM ET.

Fans can also follow complete race coverage on the INDYCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation (Channel 160).

The strong qualifying results for Honda drivers Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood in Washington DC underscore the manufacturer's consistent performance in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, particularly on street circuits. This positions Honda well for the upcoming race as it continues its pursuit of championship success and a clean sweep of street course victories.