(LEEDS, AL.) – Practice #2 for the 2026 Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix delivered the most dramatic session of the weekend so far, combining elite pace from championship contenders with a frightening crash that brought the session to an early halt. What began as a routine pre‑qualifying tune‑up quickly turned into a pivotal moment in the weekend narrative at Barber Motorsports Park.
4‑time series champion Alex Palou continued his mastery of Barber Motorsports Park, topping the session with a 1:06.4680 second lap in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou dominated this race in 2025, and his form in Practice #2 reinforced why he remains the favorite heading into qualifying.
Palou’s car looked planted and predictable through Barber’s flowing mid‑speed sections, and his long‑run consistency suggested that Ganassi has arrived with a near‑perfect baseline setup.
The impact was severe enough to deform the fencing, but McLaughlin climbed out with assistance from the AMR Safety Team and was evaluated and released shortly after. Team Penske confirmed he will switch to a backup car for qualifying.
Despite the crash, McLaughlin remained characteristically composed:
“I knew I was done,” McLaughlin said. “I dropped the right rear and spun, so I just tried to brace myself a bit. I think the crash looked a lot worse than it felt. I’m gutted for my Odyssey Battery guys.
“The car felt good. A little bit loose this morning. Cold temps were making it a bit different. But I feel good and love this place. I just want to get back out there and have a chance.”
“I just want to go out and go for pole,” McLaughlin said after the crash.
McLaughlin ended the session P12 with a best lap of 1:06.8700. Team Penske officials announced after practice that McLaughlin is switching to a backup car for NTT P1 qualifying.
Key Storylines Emerging from Practice #2
Palou vs. the Field
Palou’s pace advantage is real. His ability to extract speed early in the weekend mirrors his 2025 Barber performance, where he controlled the race from start to finish.
Kirkwood’s Quiet Strength
Championship leader Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 JM Bullion Andretti Global Honda slotted into P2, just 0.0537 seconds behind Palou. Andretti Global appears to have found a strong balance for the No. 27 Honda.
VeeKay: The Barber Sleeper
Rinus VeeKay in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet continues to validate his “sleeper” status for the weekend, delivering another top‑three performance. His Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet looks sharp in both short‑run and long‑run trim.
Grosjean Surges
Romain Grosjean in the No. 18 BMAX.10 Dale Coyne Racing Honda jumped from P11 in Practice #1 to P4 in Practice #2, showing major overnight improvement for Dale Coyne Racing.
Technical Notes & Track Conditions
Barber’s 2.3‑mile, 17‑turn layout demands precision, and Saturday morning’s cooler temperatures created a slightly looser balance for several teams. McLaughlin referenced this directly, noting the car felt “a little bit loose” before his crash.
Teams focused on:
- Aero balance for the fast Turn 12–14 sweepers
- Brake stability into Turn 5
- Tire degradation modeling for Sunday’s 90‑lap race
What This Means for Qualifying
With Palou in peak form, Kirkwood close behind, and VeeKay and Grosjean surging, qualifying is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable sessions of the season.
McLaughlin’s switch to a backup car adds another layer of intrigue—he has won twice at Barber and remains a threat even under adversity.
Final Takeaway
Practice #2 at Barber delivered everything: elite pace, major drama, and a reshuffling of expectations heading into qualifying. Palou remains the benchmark, but the field behind him is tightening—and McLaughlin’s crash has injected a new level of uncertainty into the weekend.
Up Next: NTT P1 Award qualifying, 2:30 PM/ET
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