Alex Palou once again showed why he is tough to beat in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, especially on street circuits, by staying on top of the time sheets after the second practice Saturday for the history Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.

Reigning series champion Palou was quickest in the 64-minute session divided into three groups with a top lap of 56.6145 in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda while running on the softer, grippier Firestone Firehawk alternate tires. That was the best lap after two sessions so far on the seven-turn, 1.7-mile temporary street circuit that winds around the National Mall and past some of America’s most historic monuments in the capital city.

SEE: Practice Results

Palou, who leads Kyle Kirkwood in the standings by a staggering 133 points, was quicker than Kirkwood’s session-topping time of 57.3744 in the first practice this morning. The track was dry during this practice, unlike this morning when it started damp and then dried.

Drivers also are learning to cope with the significant bumps in the braking zones of the track, adjusting driving style and setup.

“Incredible, super-fun track,” Palou said. “Just to see the buildings we have around, the Capitol when you exit Turn 7 is incredible. So lucky and privileged to be racing here.

“It’s very bumpy. But super fun. Looking forward to qualifying. It’s going to be really tight. The race, 250 miles here is going to be long.”

NTT P1 Award qualifying starts at 5 p.m. ET (FS2). Live coverage of the 147-lap, 250-mile race starts at 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday. FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls also are broadcasting all sessions.

Opening practice leader Kirkwood didn’t lose much in this session, ending up at 56.6911 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club of Andretti Global and setting up a duel for the pole for the first-ever motor race in Washington, D.C., between the top two drivers in the series standings.

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon climbed from 12th in the opening practice to third at 56.8180 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Nolan Siegel also made a big leap from 16th in the first practice to fourth with his best lap of 56.8397 in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Siegel’s teammate Pato O’Ward rounded out the top five at 56.8736 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Just .2802 of a second separated the top seven drivers in this session.

“It’s a simple-looking layout on paper, but there are so many of these bumps that add character to the track and actually make it a lot of fun to drive,” Siegel said. “I’m enjoying it. It’s really good.”

While Siegel and many other drivers adjusted car setups – especially ride heights – to compensate for the bumps, the pavement undulations still caught out a handful of drivers in this practice.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing teammates Graham Rahal and Louis Foster both suffered damage to their respective cars after hitting the bumps entering treacherous Turn 6 and making heavy contact with the wall.

The right side of Rahal’s No. 15 Gaylor Honda slapped the outside wall after hitting the bumps, while Foster’s No. 45 Desnuda Organic Tequila Honda got crossed up and smacked the inside wall with the front wing after hitting the bumps under braking. The crash added more misery for Foster, who is wearing a carbon fiber brace in one of his driving shoes and trying a carbon fiber brace on his thumb due to injuries suffered in a crash last weekend in the race at Markham, Ontario.

“I went in there that lap the same as every other, and the rear (brakes) just completely locked on the spot,” Rahal said. “There’s nothing you can do. Super frustrating. There’s no margin for error here. We’re struggling, for sure, all three cars.”