By: Spencer Neff
April 28, 2024

2024 Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Results

Scott McLaughlin led 58 of 90 laps from the pole to repeat as winner in the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.

In earning his fifth career victory, the Kiwi repeated his 2023 victory after starting on the pole. He is the first repeat winner at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course in Leeds, Alabama since Josef Newgarden (2017-18).

Team Penske scores their eighth win at Barber and their first 1-2 at the venue as Will Power finished second, 1.3194 seconds back of his teammate. In third, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Linus Lundqvist earned his career best finish and the first podium by a rookie since David Malukas at Gateway in 2022.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist and Lundqvist’s teammate and defending INDYCAR Champion Alex Palou would round out the Top Five.

Andretti Global’s Colton Herta finished eighth and leads the standings by a single point over Power.

Recap

At the start of the race, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay made contact with Sting Ray Robb, sending the A.J. Foyt Racing driver into Jack Harvey of Dale Coyne Racing. Both drivers went off track in Turn 1 but continued on. VeeKay would be penalized for avoidable contact and forced to drive-through pit lane.

A lap later, Pato O”Ward spun off track in Turn 5 while trying to avoid Lundgaard. The early trouble continued for the Arrow McLaren driver on Lap 6. In Turn 13, he made contact with Pietro Fittipaldi, sending the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver into the tire barrier.

Following the Lap 11 restart, O’Ward was assessed a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact.

While McLaughlin cycled back to the lead following the first round of green flag pit stops, trouble would befall a second Arrow McLaren driver on Lap 43. Alexander Rossi drifted into the Turn 2 gravel after the left-rear wheel on his Dallara-Chevrolet was not secured during his pit stop.

Rossi’s issues prompted the second caution of the afternoon with a restart coming on Lap 49.

Six laps into that green-flag stint, Robb found trouble in Turn 1 again, drifting off course and into the outside tire barrier.

During the Lap 62 restart, Robb’s teammate Santino Ferrucci led with Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Linus Lundqvist in second ahead of McLaughlin. Ferrucci made his final pit stop on Lap 67, handing Lundqvist the lead.

On Lap 71, it would be McLaughlin cycling back up front. From there, he would pad his lead. With five laps remaining, Christian Rasmussen slid off track in Turn 13. After returning to the racing surface, the Ed Carpenter Racing rookie stalled, prompting the fourth caution of the afternoon.

The final restart would come with two laps remaining. McLaughlin would go uncontested en route to the victory.

The average speed of the race was 106.369 mph, slowed by four cautions over 15 laps. The race featured 10 lead changes between six drivers.

Up Next

After a week off, the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins with the Sonsio Grand Prix. The 75-minute opening practice will be at 9:30 a.m. EDT on May 10. Second practice is slated for 1:10-2:10 p.m. with three-round, knockout-style qualifying at 4:20 p.m.

On Saturday May, 11, the 30-minute warmup is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. The race will be on NBC with a 3:00 p.m. broadcast start time.

Green flag for the 85-lap event on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. IndyCar1909 will be at the track for all the latest during the month of mat.

Header Image By Chris Owens/IndyCar