By: Spencer Neff
May 2, 2025

Practice 1 Results

Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson (1m07.747-122.219 mph) led the way during Friday afternoon’s opening practice for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama. Ericsson turned his lap during a second 12-minute group session that followed a 40-minute session that had all 27 entrants participate on the permanent road course.

The format, which allows rookies to participate win both groups, mimics the one used at St. Petersburg and Long Beach this year.

Ericsson’s best finish was a seventh-place effort in 2019 during his rookie season with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (now Arrow McLaren). In 2021, he started sixth with Chip Ganassi Racing

Following Ericsson on the time sheet was points leader and 2021 race winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. Ericsson’s teammate Colton Herta completed a top three sweep for Honda-powered entries. 2011 and 2012 Barber winner Will Power of Team Penske and Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi led the way for Chevrolet entrants, rounding out the Top Five.

Nolan Siegel of Arrow McLaren was best among the four drivers making their first start at Barber, finishing ninth. Louis Foster of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was quickest among the trio of drivers vying for Rookie of the Year. (Note: Siegel ran 12 races in 2024, more than the maximum of eight allowed to maintain Rookie of the Year eligibility.)

As the session drew to a close, Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist went off track in Turn 2. Rosenqvist traveled through the sand trap and came to a stop in the grass outside the track. Despite a number of brief off-track excursions throughout the field, Rosenqvist’s was the only major incident during Friday afternoon’s session.

Up Next

Here is the remaining schedule for this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. Stay with IndyCar1909 and our social media platforms for the latest on the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

At-track schedule (All Times Local/Central Time):
Saturday, May 3 
9:10-9:55 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, FS1 (Live)
10:30-11:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (Limited green flag guarantee of 45 minutes), FS1 (Live)
12:30-1 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (Two groups, 12-minutes each), FS1 (Live)
1:35-3 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (Live)
Sunday, May 4
9:02-9:27 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)
10:30 a.m. – FS1 on air
10:31 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Alabama “Drivers, start your engines”
10:36 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Alabama (35 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (Live)
12:30 p.m. – FOX on air
12:40 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
12:47 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (90 laps / 207 miles), FOX (Live)

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR