Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood set the fastest time during Saturday morning’s first practice session for the NTT IndyCar Series Washington Grand Prix—the Freedom 250. Operating on a damp track that dried rapidly, the street-course specialist posted a best lap of 57.374s in Group 1 to lead overall.

The first session on the new 1.7-mile circuit around the National Mall was delayed by 15 minutes as damp track conditions required initial installation laps on wet tyres. As the driving line cleared, teams quickly switched to primary slick compounds before fitting soft tyres during the split-group segments.

Following discussions on the event’s political backdrop, drivers encountered a technical layout where mistakes carried immediate penalties. Will Power clipped the exit wall at Turn 2, damaging his Andretti entry, while McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard spun into the Turn 6 barrier but avoided terminal damage.

Álex Palou topped the Group 2 segment with a 57.612s lap, ending up 2nd overall behind Kirkwood. Dennis Hauger, David Malukas, and Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top five positions.

IndyCar track action continues on Saturday afternoon with Practice 2, followed by Qualifying later in the day.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Who set the fastest lap in Practice 1 for the Washington GP?

Kyle Kirkwood topped the session with a lap time of 57.374s driving for Andretti Global.

2. What caused the delay at the start of Practice 1?

Damp track conditions following morning rainfall delayed the green flag by 15 minutes.

3. What is the layout of the Washington street circuit?

The track measures 1.7 miles around the National Mall, featuring seven turns with the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop.