The NTT IndyCar Series is headed to Alabama this weekend for round four of the season at Barber Motorsports Park. Prepare for Sunday’s race with all the important details you need to know before the green flag waves.
Round 4: The IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama Preview and Predictions
Barber’s been a part of the IndyCar schedule since 2010, except for the cancelled 2020 race due to the pandemic.
Scott McLaughlin has won the past two years at the track and will be looking for a three-peat. The only other driver in the current grid who has three wins under their belt at Barber is Josef Newgarden.
The Track: Barber Motorsports Park
Built in 2002 and opened in 2003, Barber Motorsports Park is a 17-turn 2.38-mile (3.83 km) road course. It’s located in Birmingham, Alabama. The track is defined by its elevation changes throughout, tight corners, and limited run-off areas. The track’s been described as a “self-policing” circuit. At just 45 feet wide, any mistake can cost drivers their entire race.
Barber is a race that relies heavily on a driver’s ability to maintain their lines and easily adapt to anything thrown at them on track, including sudden changes to the weather.
IndyCar first raced at Barber in 2010, with Helio Castroneves winning the first race. Pato O’Ward set the track record in 2021 with a 1:06.81-second lap. Josef Newgarden has the most wins with three at Barber.
Race Preview:
The 90-lap race will force each driver to focus heavily on tire degradation. With the track’s various corners and elevation changes, teams will be tested on how to best manage their pit stops before tires are too worn down.
Last year, most drivers went for a three-stop strategy while others went with a two-stop strategy. With minimal opportunities for overtaking, drivers have to be hyper-aware of the moves they try to pull off.
Lastly, caution periods have a habit of messing with race strategies, so teams will have to account for the possibility of racing under a yellow flag. In 2-24, there was only one caution period, but it ended up causing some drivers to lose ground.
Drivers to Watch
Alex Palou
Palou currently sits at the top of the driver standings, but his lead isn’t as comfortable as it has been in previous seasons. The battle for the championship is far from over, but after failing to make it onto the podium in Long Beach, Palou will be looking to extend his championship lead once again.
A majority of his wins happen on road and street courses as opposed to ovals, so he can find success once again this weekend.
Christian Lundgaard
Since moving to Arrow McLaren at the start of this season, Lundgaard has finished ahead of both of his teammates during all three races.
He finished P8 during the season opener and snagged P3 in the past two races. Lundgaard is getting closer and closer to snagging the top step of the podium, and it feels like this year could be the year we see him back up there. Lundgaard’s first and only IndyCar win was in Toronto in 2023.
Jacob Abel
Although the rookie is still finding his footing in IndyCar. Barber is a promising track for the 24-year-old driver. The runner-up in last year’s Indy NXT championship took home three wins last season, including one at Barber.
There’s been a strong display of skill so far from this year’s rookie class, so it will be interesting to see if Abel can regain some of last year’s momentum.
How to Watch
The First Practice will take place on Friday, May 2, at 3:30 PM Eastern. The drivers head to the track again for Practice 2 on Saturday at 12:15 PM. Qualifying is later that same day at 3:30 PM. On Sunday, May 4, warm-up takes place at 10:15 AM. Finally, the checkered flag waves, and the drivers start their engines at 1:30 PM Eastern for the race.
The coverage will be on Fox. Practice 1 will be available on FS2, while the rest of the weekend, except the race, will be on FS1.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Motorsports for all the news from the IndyCar and the Grand Prix of Alabama.
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