The Freedom 250 ripped up Alex Palou’s perfect script. What began with single-lap dominance ended in pit-lane penalties and a 20th-place finish on the streets of Washington, D.C., delivering a sudden shock to an otherwise untouchable championship run. As the INDYCAR standings take shape, Palou remains in prime position to capture the championship — what would be his fifth in six seasons. He leads the field with 553 points, building a comfortable 91-point cushion over Freedom 250 race winner Kyle Kirkwood. Sunday’s race didn’t go Palou’s way, taking a slight bite out of his championship lead ov...