Drivers turn their attention from the buildings to the bumps while testing out DC's IndyCar track

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is largely about the visuals — the Capitol hovering behind Turn 1, the Washington Monument off in the distance.

Now, IndyCar drivers can finally evaluate the actual track.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be fun or not to drive. It’s a blast, super fun,” series points leader Alex Palou said after a morning practice session Saturday. “Very bumpy, huge bumps heading into Turn 2 and Turn 6. Massive bumps that are going to spice things up.”

The 1.7-mile street course in downtown Washington was an unknown commodity, set up for the first — and possibly the last — time for this event celebrating the country's 250th birthday. As these tracks go, it looks pretty simple with only seven turns, all but one to the left.

That doesn't mean the driving is smooth, though — even on the straightaway down Pennsylvania Avenue between Turns 1 and 2.

“We got quite a bit of bumps on the exit of Turn 1, quite a bit of bumps going into 2, the straightaway,” said Pato O'Ward, who won last month at Mid-Ohio. “I would say that’s taken over a little bit of what the characteristic of what this track is.”

Pennsylvania Avenue is repaved often because of its role in presidential inaugurations. Race chair Bud Denker spoke highly of the area's roads in the run-up to the event, but at high speed, the slightest bump can make a difference. Louis Foster went over one near the end of the Independence Avenue straightaway and ended up going nose-first into the wall — in the area Palou was talking about before Turn 6.

“Going to try to see if we can get a better balance in the corners, not focus so much on the bumps. They’re not going to disappear,” Palou said. “I think if you move a little bit on lanes, might be a little bit better, but it’s not going to completely go away from that.”

Palou said Turn 2 — a severe bend at the end of the Pennsylvania Avenue straightaway — presents a good passing opportunity. Same for Turn 5 — a 90-degree left from 7th Street onto Independence Avenue.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of action. I see that just having a wide track, it’s just going to allow us to have more passing than, for example, Detroit,” Palou said, referring to another downtown Indycar course. “It’s so narrow that even if you are so much faster, you can just block so much easier. Here, if you’re not going to have the pace, they’re going to overtake you.”

Palou had the top practice lap of 56.6145 seconds in the second session, then topped qualifying later in the day.

Although IndyCar owns the D.C. spotlight this weekend, NASCAR made its presence felt when four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon swept Saturday's two-race IROC event in Washington. Kurt Busch was runner-up in both races.

“I was like a kid in a candy store,” Busch said. “It was like I was in a bowl of M&M's with all the colors and the banners. ‘Where’s my braking zone? I don't know — oh, that's a cool building.'”

The weather was mostly fine despite some threatening clouds. IndyCar drivers can expect humid conditions for Sunday's 147-lap, 250-mile race.

“It’s going to be physical,” O'Ward said. “Every challenge that a street course usually throws at you. It’s bumpy. You got a bunch of sweat inside of the helmet. You’re bouncing up and down in there. It gets pretty rough, gets pretty aggressive.”

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Spectators watch from an overpass near the U.S. Capitol as race car drivers take practice runs along Pennsylvania Avenue prior to Sunday's Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

A race track official observes a car participating in a practice run for the IROC auto race, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Race car diver Scott McLaughlin gets out of his car after a qualifying race prior to Sunday's Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Jeff Gordon, driving an historic IROC Pontiac Firebird, performs a burnout after completing an IROC race, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Race car driven by Louis Foster is seen as drivers take practice runs prior to Sunday's Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Race car diver Alex Palou, drives during a qualifying race prior to Sunday's Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Stetson Bennett passed for 181 yards and rushed for two TDs while leading the Rams to a 20-point halftime lead Saturday, and Los Angeles cruised to a 34-0 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Bennett went 19 of 31 while playing the entire first half for the Rams (2-0) before rookie Ty Simpson finished up.

Bennett is the Rams' presumptive backup to NFL MVP Matthew Stafford this season despite never playing in a regular-season game, but the former University of Georgia star turned in another in his history of strong preseason performances during his four seasons on the LA roster. He dived to the pylon for the Rams’ first touchdown against New Orleans, and he scored again on a scramble in the second quarter while leading four substantial scoring drives.

The Saints (0-2) stirred up their own quarterback competition with Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler playing one half apiece at SoFi Stadium, but neither prospective backup to Tyler Shough stood out during a rough overall outing for New Orleans.

Rattler moved the offense better than Wilson while facing the bottom of the Rams' defensive depth chart in the second half, but the Saints also made two goal-line turnovers, with Rattler throwing an interception that was returned for a 100-yard touchdown by safety Alex Cook.

The Saints even attempted a 39-yard field goal in the final minute to avoid the shutout, but Tanner Brown missed it.

The Saints didn’t play their presumptive starters for the second straight preseason game after spending the past week training on the West Coast, while the Rams continued Sean McVay's decade-long tradition of resting every key player possible for the entire preseason.

Simpson finally got on the field midway through the third quarter, and the 13th overall pick in the draft again ran the offense capably, although he didn’t get as much of a chance to perform as he did while looking sharp last week in Kansas City.

Rattler, who started 14 games over the past two seasons with the Saints, got better drives out of New Orleans' offense than Wilson, the 2021 No. 2 overall pick who is on his fourth team in six NFL seasons.

Wilson went 6 of 12 for 55 yards, and he threw an interception to AZ Hamilton in the second quarter.

Rattler led a long drive after halftime, but his goal-line throw to Treyton Welch was intercepted and taken all the way back by Cook.

Rattler led the Saints deep into Rams territory again, but impressive undrafted Rams rookie linebacker Wesley Bailey forced a fumble by Ty Chandler.

The Saints finish their preseason Friday with a visit to the Cowboys less than two weeks after their brawl-filled joint practice that led to $500,000 fines for each team. The Rams stay at SoFi as the road team against the Chargers on Thursday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Payton Zdroik (62) recovers a fumble during the second half an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman )

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) rolls out of the pocket during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Zach Wilson throws a pass during the first half an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) celebrates his rushing touchdown with teammates during the first half an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett reaches out to touch the pylon to score a touchdown during the first half an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)