The 2026 IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. odds have Alex Palou listed as the favorite at +140, the shortest price on a 25-driver board for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut in the nation’s capital. The race runs 147 laps on a 1.7-mile, seven-turn street circuit through the streets of the District of Columbia on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The green flag is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Streets of Washington, D.C., Washington, DC |
| When | Sunday, August 23 – 1:00 PM ET |
| TV | FOX |
2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix Betting Preview
This is the first INDYCAR race held on the streets of Washington, D.C. The 1.7-mile layout starts on 3rd Street near the U.S. Capitol and runs down Pennsylvania Avenue, which doubles as pit lane. Its seven turns are built almost entirely from 90-degree left-handers, with a single right. Kyle Kirkwood has said that repetitive profile should produce fewer passes than a varied layout.
Distance is the other headline. INDYCAR extended the race from 125 laps to 147 to deliver a true 250 miles. That makes it the longest street race the series has run since Cleveland’s airport events in the mid-1980s. Alexander Rossi has estimated roughly three hours and four pit stops. Will Power has flagged the closing 50 laps, since these cars carry no power steering.
Because the circuit is new, nobody in the field has a venue record, and that shapes the board. With no track history to price, the market leans on season form. Palou arrives off a Portland win and a fourth at Markham. Marcus Ericsson won on the streets of Markham last weekend, ending a 63-race winless drought, while Kirkwood crashed to 21st. Both practices and qualifying run Saturday only, so teams get one day of data. Our Markham odds breakdown shows how the board looked a week ago.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. — Top Odds to Win
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Alex Palou | +140 |
| Kyle Kirkwood | +450 |
| Christian Lundgaard | +800 |
| Marcus Ericsson | +900 |
| David Malukas | +1000 |
| Scott McLaughlin | +1000 |
| Pato O’Ward | +1500 |
| Josef Newgarden | +1800 |
| Scott Dixon | +1800 |
| Will Power | +1800 |
Odds accurate as of Wednesday, August 19, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest IndyCar Odds – Props
2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix Odds: Alex Palou Favored at +140
The case for the price is the season. Palou has six wins and six poles in 14 starts, has led 558 laps, and sits 133 points clear of Kirkwood on 542. He has also been the strongest street-course driver in the series this year, winning at St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Detroit. Three of the five street races run in 2026 went to the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Where nobody has track data, the market defaults to form.
The case against is the number itself. At +140, implied probability sits near 42 percent in a 25-car field, which is heavy for a 250-mile street race on an unknown surface. Street courses generate cautions, and cautions scramble pit cycles. With four stops expected rather than three, one badly timed yellow can cost the fastest car the win. The last two street races also went elsewhere, to Kirkwood at Arlington and Ericsson at Markham.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix Mid-Board Contender Odds
Pato O’Ward (+1500) is the first name past the top group. He won at Mid-Ohio in July, leading an Arrow McLaren 1-2 with Christian Lundgaard, and finished fifth at Markham. He is fifth in points on 385. The market has him mid-board because his season has been steady rather than dominant.
Will Power (+1800) took third at Markham, his best recent run. Qualifying speed carries extra weight where passing is expected to be difficult. His price reflects a season without a win rather than a lack of pace on this type of layout.
Felix Rosenqvist (+3300) is the mid-board name most out of step with his results. He won the Indianapolis 500 in May and has finished second at Long Beach, Road America and Portland. Three runner-up finishes and a 500 victory usually buy a shorter number. The market appears to discount podiums that skew toward road courses and ovals.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix Long Shot Odds on the Board
Romain Grosjean (+8000) is the most interesting number at the long end. He led late at Markham before Ericsson got past him, finishing second for his best result since 2023 and his sixth INDYCAR runner-up. He is still winless in the series. The price treats that as one strong day rather than a step up for Dale Coyne Racing.
Mick Schumacher (+8000) sits at the same price in his rookie season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in May as the only rookie to complete all 200 laps. Past that group the tail runs to Kyffin Simpson at +15000 and Sting Ray Robb at +30000, where the numbers track season-long pace.
2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix Odds: What to Watch
The board is top-heavy and built on season form, because there is no alternative. Nobody has turned a lap in Washington, so the usual venue-history inputs are missing. That makes Saturday the pivot, with practice and qualifying sharing a single day.
Expect the prices behind Palou to move once practice speeds appear, and again after qualifying. Drivers who find the circuit quickly should shorten; anyone who struggles will drift. Palou also leads by 133 points with four races left, so a strong Sunday could all but settle the title before Milwaukee. For recent context, see our Portland odds preview.
IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. FAQ: Sunday August 23, 2026
Who is the favorite to win the Freedom 250 Grand Prix?
Alex Palou is the favorite at +140, the shortest price on the 25-driver board. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has six wins in 14 starts and leads the championship by 133 points, with street-course victories at St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Detroit this season.
What are the odds to win the Freedom 250 Grand Prix?
Alex Palou is +140, Kyle Kirkwood is +450, Christian Lundgaard is +800 and Marcus Ericsson is +900 at the top of the board. David Malukas and Scott McLaughlin are both +1000, followed by Pato O’Ward at +1500. Full top-10 pricing sits in the odds table above.
What time does the Freedom 250 Grand Prix start?
The green flag is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 23, 2026. FOX pre-race coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. ET, following a warmup show at 9:00 a.m. ET on FS1. Practice and qualifying are both held Saturday, August 22.
What channel is the Freedom 250 Grand Prix on?
The race airs on FOX. Saturday’s sessions are split across FS1 and FS2, with the first practice on FS1 and both the second practice and qualifying on FS2. Sunday’s warmup show also airs on FS1 ahead of the FOX broadcast.
How many laps is the Freedom 250 Grand Prix?
The race is 147 laps and covers 249.9 miles. INDYCAR extended the distance from an original 125 laps so the event would run a true 250 miles, making it the longest street race on the current schedule and a four-stop strategy race for most teams.
Where is the Freedom 250 Grand Prix being held?
The race is held on a temporary street circuit in Washington, D.C. The 1.7-mile, seven-turn layout starts on 3rd Street near the U.S. Capitol and runs along Pennsylvania Avenue. It is the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES event ever staged in the nation’s capital.