By: Spencer Neff
April 27, 2024
2023 Barber Motorsports Park winner Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske won pole for Sunday’s 90-lap Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.
The New Zealander earned his sixth career pole and first since Gateway last year. It is also the 300th INDYCAR pole for Team Penske, including a record-extending ninth at Barber among five drivers.
Team Penske’s last NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course in Birmingham Alabama was in 2018 with Josef Newgarden.
Prior to Saturday, McLaughlin’s best start at Barber was fourth, which he achieved in 2022 and 2023.
Round 3-Fast 6
McLaughlin would pace the final session with a best lap of 1m05.949 (125.552 mph) to win the pole.
Teammate Will Power joins him on the front row, .097 of a second back of McLaughlin’s best lap. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard was third, best among the Hondas. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward starts alongside him on the second row in fourth.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, the only driver to make all three Fast Six sessions in 2024, starts fifth. After his first career Fast Six appearance, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong will start in sixth.
Round 2-Fast 12
Lundgaard (1m05.813-125.811 mph) was quickest in the second round as he advanced to the Fast Six along with Power, Mclaughlin, Armstrong, O’Ward and Rosenqvist.
Starting 7th-12th after not advancing will be Graham Rahal, Josef Newgarden, Kyle Kirkwood,Alex Palou, Romain Grosjean and Tom Blomqvist. Blomqvist of Meyer Shank Racing is the first rookie to advance to the Fast 12 this season.
Round 1-Group 1
Palou would lead the way in the opening 10-minute session, posting a best lap of 1m05.5862 (126.246 mph). Joining him in the Fast 12 would be O’Ward, Armstrong, Rahal, Grosjean and Kirkwood.
The drivers who missed the cut for the second round included Scott Dixon, Colton Herta, Santino Ferrucci, Linus Lundqvist, Luca Ghiotto, Kyffin Simpson and Sting Ray Robb. They start tomorrow’s race on the inside of Rows 7-13.
Round 1-Group 2
McLaughlin (1m05.8147-125.808 mph) was fastest in Group 2 advancing with Power, Newgarden, Lundgaard, Rosenqvist and Blomqvist.
Christian Rasmussen, Alexander Rossi, Marcus Ericsson, Agusting Canapino, Jack Harvey, Théo Pourchaire, Pietro Fittipaldi and Rinus VeeKay. VeeKay, who was hampered by electrical issues, will start 27th. The other drivers start outside Rows 7-13.
Up Next
Here is the race day schedule for this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. IndyCar1909.com will have recaps following all on-track sessions and updates on social media throughout the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.
At-track schedule (All Times Local/Central Time):
Sunday, April 28
9:15-9:45 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock
10:10 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Alabama “Drivers, start your engines”
10:15 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Alabama (35 laps/55 minutes), Peacock.
Noon – NBC on air
12:33 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
12:40 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (90 laps / 207 miles), NBC (Live)
Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR
IndyCar1909.com 