(LEEDS, AL.) – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES officially opened its 1st road‑course weekend of 2026 with Practice 1 at Barber Motorsports Park for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, which delivered a session defined by high commitment, evolving grip, and early signs of who may control the weekend. The 2.3‑mile, 17‑turn circuit once again proved why it’s one of the most technical venues on the calendar, challenging drivers with elevation changes, fast sweepers, and punishing rhythm sections.

The session ran cleanly, with no major stoppages, but plenty of off‑line moments as drivers explored the limits on a rapidly improving surface. The official highlight reel showcased aggressive laps, near‑spins, and several standout performances.

Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin in the No. 3 Odyssey Battery Chevrolet set the pace on Friday with a top lap of 1:07.3840 seconds in preparation for Sunday’s race.

Practice Results

“Pretty good start for us on the Odyssey Battery Chevy,” McLaughlin said. “We were all strong, which is a good sign for the team. We’ve done a lot of hard work in the offseason to figure out where we can be better. We’ve still got a lot to learn and be better and stronger.
“Overall, a pretty good start for us. Bring on tomorrow.”

Top Performers Noted in the Session

  • Alex Palou — Four-time series champion, Smooth, planted, and immediately fast. The reigning champion looked fully in control, especially through the high‑speed museum section. P7 (1:07.6733) in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
  • Josef Newgarden — 3-time Barber winner, Focused on long‑run balance but still logged laps competitive with the leaders. P6 (1:07.5600 seconds) in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet
  • Pato O’Ward — 2022 Barber winner, Aggressive as always, attacking curbs and experimenting with alternate lines. P3 (1:07.4158 seconds) in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Team‑by‑Team Breakdown

Chip Ganassi Racing

Palou’s car looked exceptionally stable, especially in mid‑speed transitions. Ganassi’s long‑run consistency stood out, with the team focusing heavily on tire‑degradation modeling—critical at Barber.

Team Penske

McLaughlin and Newgarden both reported strong rear grip, a major advantage at a track where oversteer can punish lap times. Penske appeared to be in a strong baseline window from the start.

Arrow McLaren

O’Ward ran a divergent setups early, with O’Ward’s car looking sharp on alternate‑tire simulations. The team appears poised for a strong qualifying run.

Andretti Global

Championship leader Kyle Kirkwood focused on braking stability into Turn 5, one of Barber’s most important overtaking zones.

Likely Qualifying Threats

  • Alex Palou
  • Scott McLaughlin
  • Pato O’Ward
  • Josef Newgarden

Drivers to Watch

  • Rinus VeeKay — historically strong at Barber and trending upward.
  • Kyle Kirkwood — current championship leader with improving road‑course form.
  • Marcus Armstrong — quietly consistent and strong on technical circuits.

Strategic Themes Emerging

  • Tire management will be a major differentiator.
  • Two‑stop vs. three‑stop strategy remains open.
  • Track evolution from Practice 1 to qualifying will be significant.

Up Next: Practice #2, Saturday 11 AM/ET

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