LEEDS, Ala. — This weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park represents the fourth series race in the past 29 days this month, which is noteworthy.
It’s been 50-plus years since the series was this active in March, and in the past decade, only the month of July has hosted as many events in different locations.
This weekend also offers another opportunity to add to the competitive balance of the 25-car field. So far, three drivers representing three different teams have won races, and there is every reason to believe the run of new winners to open the season can continue.
Dixon Needs Barber
It can be argued that Scott Dixon is the most successful NTT IndyCar Series driver in Barber Motorsports Park history, yet he doesn’t have a win to show for it. Dixon’s stat line at the 17-turn, 2.38-mile permanent road course is impressive: Nine podium finishes in 15 starts, including six runner-up finishes. That’s impressive by any measure. But he still would like to win at the track and score his first victory of the season.
The Captain’s Table
As for reaching the top step of the podium in Birmingham, Alabama, Scott McLaughlin and Alex Palou have been the track’s recent masters, each winning two of the last five races. In fact, Barber has been a Team Penske kind of place.
Josef Newgarden has won three of the past 10 races, while Andretti Global’s Will Power has won two races while driving for Penske. Power is a four-time NTT P1 Award winner at Barber with Penske, part of the record 71 poles he has scored in his career.
Other Notes
• Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who won the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15, is the series points leader for the first time in his career. His margin over four-time series champion Alex Palou is 26 points.
• Further proof of the young season’s competitive balance is the overall point separation. The top eight drivers are separated by less than 50 points. Last year, only three drivers were within that spread after three races as Palou won twice and finished second in the other.
• The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix will be the 16th NTT INDYCAR SERIES event conducted at Barber Motorsports Park. Active race winners who are expected to compete are: Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward and Scott McLaughlin.
• Seven drivers have won this race from the pole – Will Power in 2011, Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2013, Simon Pagenaud in 2016, Josef Newgarden in 2018, Takuma Sato in 2019, Scott McLaughlin in 2024 and Alex Palou in 2025.
• Three drivers have competed in every NTT IndyCar Series race at Barber Motorsports Park – Scott Dixon, Will Power and Graham Rahal. All are entered this weekend.
• Team Penske has eight wins at Barber Motorsports Park (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024). Andretti Global, Chip Ganassi Racing, ECR, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Arrow McLaren have also won at the track. Andretti Autosport won in 2013 and 2014 with Ryan Hunter-Reay. ECR won with Josef Newgarden in 2015, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing won in 2019 with Takuma Sato, Chip Ganassi Racing won in 2021 and 2025 with Alex Palou and Arrow McLaren won in 2022 with Pato O’Ward.
• Twenty-two of the 25 drivers entered in the event have competed in IndyCar races at Barber Motorsports Park. Twelve entered drivers have led laps: Will Power 216, Alex Palou 153, Josef Newgarden 141, Scott McLaughlin 85, Rinus VeeKay 58, Pato O’Ward 52, Scott Dixon 46, Graham Rahal 25, Santino Ferrucci 14, Marcus Armstong 6, Alexander Rossi 3 and Felix Rosenqvist 1.
• Three Rookie of the Year contenders – Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher – are entered and will race an Indy car at Barber Motorsports Park for the first time. Hauger won the Indy NXT by Firestone race at the track in 2025.
