By: Spencer Neff
March 28, 2026

Practice 2 Results Combined Practice Results Qualifying Groups

Following his dominant 2025 performance here, Alex Palou led the way in Saturday morning’s Practice 2 at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who also won the 2021 race on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn permanent road course, posted a best lap of 1m06.468 (124.571 mph) in preparation for Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.

Following Palou was Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader and winner of the last race on the streets of Arlington. Kirkwood, who finished .0537 of a second back of Palou, is still in search of his first INDYCAR podium on a permanent road course.

2022 Barber pole winner Rinus VeeKay’s Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Chevrolet was third behind Palo and Kirkwood’s Hondas. 2023 Barber pole winner and runner-up Romain Grosjean of Dale Coyne Racing was fourth. Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong would complete the Top Five.

A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collett finished eighth among the 25 cars, best among three rookies making their first start att Barber.

Just before the halfway point of the session, Nolan Siegel spun off Turn 12 and stopped after making light contact with the front-end of his Arrow-McLaren Chevrolet. The drive of the No. 6 was assessed a five-minute hold penalty following the incident.

In the waning minutes of the “all-skate” portion, Scott McLaughlin spun in Turn 1 and backed into the outside fencing and barriers in a violent impact. McLaughlin was able to climb from his damaged Team Penske Chevrolet unassisted before his mandated trip into the INDYCAR Medical Unit. He would be released shortly thereafter.

After leading Friday’s practice, McLaughlin and the No. 3 team face extensive repairs before qualifying this afternoon.

Up Next

Here is the remaining schedule for the weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media platforms with 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, March 28

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, March 29

9:05-9:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)

Noon – FOX on air

12:10 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

12:17 p.m. – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (90 laps / 207 miles), FOX (Live)

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR