Schumacher and Rahal Finished 11th and 13th in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C., Foster 18th

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. – Streets around Washington, D.C.’s National Mall
Round 15 of 18 in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES
RACE NOTES / QUOTES – Sunday, August 23, 2026

SCHUMACHER AND RAHAL FINISHED 11TH AND 13TH IN THE FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX OF WASHINGTON, D.C.; FOSTER 18TH

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Gaylor Electric Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I felt like I couldn’t really get anything going. Sometimes I was all right, but overall, I felt like the rear of the car was quite a challenge same as all weekend. I felt like I had to be a little bit on my back foot. There were times I felt like I could push pretty good, but then there were others that I felt like I could get bit so I was a little bit cautious. Our strategy after the punctured tire from the start, was a little unique, so we were having to overcome the puncture that we got and I don’t even know how we got that, but, that put us off a little. It was a long race. My brake pedal foot is very tender.”

• FAST FACTS: He qualified 23rd and started 20th due to grid penalties ahead for Schumacher and two others. A few cars made contact on the start and Rahal ran over debris so when a caution came out for the debris he stopped for new tires and a top-off on fuel. He joined the back of the field but his alternate strategy allowed him to run longer and he ultimately led 12 laps after others made their first stops. In a race that had six caution periods, he ultimately finished 13th. He was understandably excited to get back to D.C. after a quick visit to the area in July with Honda where he was also able to meet President Trump with his father, Bobby Rahal. After earning three podium finishes on road and street courses this season, Graham Rahal was hoping to also make his mark on the historic race in Washington, D.C….  Has SIX IndyCar Series wins (2008 – St. Pete street course; 2015 – Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 – Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2) and FIVE poles (2009 – St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 – Detroit Race 1 street; IMS (road) 2023 August, Portland (road) 2023) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015… He dropped from 13th in series point standings to 14th with a total of 276 points.

LOUIS FOSTER, No. 45 Desnuda Organic Tequila Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It was a very, very long race, I have a very sore body. It was a race of survival, to be honest. We were just out there trying to stay out the walls, avoid other people and finish the race. We managed to finish this historic race, which is obviously awesome for us. All of our drivers finished and there were a lot of people who didn’t finish so I’m happy about that. We just didn’t quite have the pace today and we were obviously just dealing with other issues which meant that we just didn’t have pace to compete super competitively.”

• FAST FACTS: He qualified 18th and started 16th after Siegel and Ericsson, who qualified ahead of him, served grid penalties for unapproved engine changes. Despite driving with injuries sustained the week before in Markham, he soldiered on to complete the long race and finish 18th…  Foster earned his second career INDYCAR pole last Saturday in Markham, Ontario, Canada by an impressive margin of four-tenths of a second over second place qualifier Lundgaard.  He led what became a race-high 32 laps before he was one of the last two drivers to make his first stop, doing so under caution following an incident for Armstrong. Foster charged from ninth to third place before he made contact with the wall after he took over second place from eventual winner Ericsson and ultimately retired after completing 42/90 laps… He dropped from 19th to 20th place in series standings with a total of 212.

MICK SCHUMACHER, No. 47 NEREUS™ Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “We tried to keep our nose clean, and I think we managed that somewhat. It’s a pretty tough one with all the bumps and stuff. The race really takes it out of you in many ways, but it was good. With everything that was thrown at us, we still managed to do a decent job and finish eleventh. It’s a great amount of points.”

• FAST FACTS: Qualified 20th but had to serve a six-grid penalty for an unapproved engine change and started in 24th place. He maximized the various strategies at play and cycled into the top-10 before pit stops. He almost earned a top-10 finish and took the checkered flag in 11th place… He ran in the top-10 at the previous street race in Markham. He was in ninth place in the race when he brought out the first of six cautions after he made contact with the Turn 4 wall on Lap 14/90. His chances of making it to his first Firestone Fast Six were looking good but the timing of a red flag limited his opportunity.. He has continued to gain valuable experience this season and is hoping to better his existing top start of fourth place in Phoenix and eighth in Nashville. He earned his best INDYCAR career finish at Nashville Superspeedway (oval) with eighth place. He is 24th in series point standings with 170 points. 

NEXT UP: The series will head to the Snap-On Makers and Fixers 250 doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile, August 29 and 30.