By: Spencer Neff
May 4, 2025

2025 Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Results

After earning pole yesterday, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou continued his 2025 dominance with another convincing victory at the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.

The Spaniard led 81 of 90 laps, the most of any driver at Barber Motorsports Park since Will Power win 2011.

It is the 14th win of his career, third in the first quartet of races in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season and second at Barber Motorsports Park. Palou earned victory in his 2021 CGR debut. It is also the second win at Barber for his team.

Palou would beat Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard by 16.0035 seconds, the largest margin of victory in nearly two years.

Palou now leads Lundgaard by 60 through the first four races of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin finished third after winning at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn permanent road course in Leeds, Alabama.

Dale Coyne Racing’s Rinus VeeKay turned in his best performance with his new team in fourth.

Power joined his teammate McLaughlin and Lundgaard to give Chevrolet three entries in the Top Five to a pair of Hondas.

After making his first appearance in the Fast Six, Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel finished ninth in his first INDYCAR start at the track.

Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing was best among the drivers vying for Rookie of the Year honors, finishing 25th in the 27-car field.

Shwartzman is 23rd in points and leads the rookie standings by five over Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster, who finished 26th and 13 over Dale Coyne Racing’s Jacob Abel, who finished 27th.

Race Recap

Palou would hold McLaughlin at bay and lead the first 23 laps of the race. On Lap 4, he set the best lap of the race (1m09.0177-119.969 mph)

Further back, Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson was the first driver to pit as he opted for the preferred alternate Firestone tires.

On Lap 24, Palou would pit from the lead, giving Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong top spot for two laps as he was the last driver to make his initial pit stop.

Palou would again maintain the lead until his Lap 46 stop. On Lap 51, Palou retook the lead with Lundgaard trailing him.

With 26 laps remaining, Palou would stop for his required set of new alternate tires, which propelled McLaughlin to the lead.

After getting the lead back with 23 laps to go, Palou would cruise to victory and extend his points lead.

For the third consecutive race, there were no cautions-a feat not seen in the series in 39 years.

After a six-lap caution to begin the opener at St. Petersburg, the last 339 laps of competition have been run under green flag conditions.

It is also the first caution-free race in the series’ 15 appearances at Barber Motorsports Park.

While missing out on an elusive victory at Barber, Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon improved a field-best 14 positions and finished 12th.

The 90-lap event featured six lead changes among three drivers (Armstrong led six laps and McLaughlin three).

With a 116.562 mph average speed, it tops last year’s race as the fastest ever run at the venue.

Up Next

The month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins next weekend as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES tackles the 2.438-mile, 14-turn road course for the Sonsio Grand Prix.

Practice 1 is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, May 9 (FS2) with second practice at 1:oo p.m. (FS2). Qualifying will be at 4:30 p.m. (FS1).

On Saturday May 10, the final warmup is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EDT (FS1).

The 85-lap race is set for a 4:30 p.m. broadcast time and a 4:52 p.m. green flag time (FOX).

IndyCar1909 will be on-site and credentialed at IMS throughout all on-track activities.

Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media platforms for all the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR