By: Spencer Neff
May 3, 2025

Practice 2 Results Combined Practice Results Qualifying Order

A.J. Foyt Racing’s David Malukas (1m08.1661-121.468) was fastest in Saturday morning’s practice for the CHildren’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.

Malukas’ Dallara-Chevrolet bested 2021Barber Motorsports Park winner and current NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing Honda entry by .0297 of a second during the 45-minute session.

Following them on the time sheet was Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, Will Power of Team Penske, who’s won twice at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn permanent road course in Leeds, Alabama (2011 and 2012). Louis Foster of Rahal Letterman Lanigian Racing would be the fastest rookie in the field, rounding out the Top Five.

Aside from Malukas, rookies Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing and Jacob Abel of Dale Coyne Racing were the lone drivers to post a better lap in Practice 2 than in any part of yesterday’s session.

Malukas, who missed the 2024 race at Barber due to a wrist injury, started 17th and finished 19th in 2023, his most recent of a pair of starts at the circuit.

Weather has been a major topic of conversation surrounding the weekend and it began to factor in during this session.

Just past halfway in the session, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward slid off track and into the outside tire barrier in turn 17. The 2022 race winner and track record holder (2021) sustained minimal damage to the front wing of his Dallara-Chevrolet.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the session and rain pouring down, Marcus Ericsson of Andrettii Global spun in Turn 12 and made heavy contact with the inside tire barrier. After leading Friday’s session, Ericsson and his team will have extensive work to do ahead of qualifying this afternoon.

Despite an MGU (motor generator unit) change that delayed their on-track time, Josef Newgarden and his Team Penske entry were able to make it on track for some brief running.

After the stoppage, teams returned to the track in preparation for a qualifying session which could be impacted by rain and other inclement weather.

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 
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