Key Storylines to Watch at Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix

The Month of May is here, and the NTT IndyCar Series is preparing for another thrilling race before heading to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This weekend, all eyes are on Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix will test drivers on one of the most physically demanding tracks on the schedule.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the action. Several key storylines are set to unfold, promising an exciting race with drama and intense competition.

Alex Palou: The Man to Beat

Alex Palou has become a dominant force in the IndyCar Series. His performance at Barber Motorsports Park is highly anticipated.

Palou won at Barber in 2021 and excels on natural terrain road courses, with 11 wins. Starting from pole position, he is once again the driver to watch.

Kyle Kirkwood’s recent victory in Long Beach showed that Palou can be beaten. Palou’s consistency and adaptability make him a strong contender for another win.

Palou’s Qualifying Performance

Palou was pleased with his qualifying lap, especially given the unpredictable weather. “We didn’t know if it was going to be wet or dry, so we were all I think panicking a little bit,” he said.

Despite the uncertainty, Palou secured pole position. This puts him in an excellent spot for the race.

Scott Dixon: Breaking the Barber Curse

Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, has yet to win at Barber Motorsports Park despite 14 attempts. He has six runner-up finishes and nine podiums but has always fallen short of victory.

This year, Dixon starts from 26th position, making his quest even tougher. The Chip Ganassi Racing team has shown improvement at Barber, with three drivers making the podium in the last four races.

Dixon’s experience and skill make him a threat, but he will need some luck to finally break his Barber curse.

Team Performance at Barber

Chip Ganassi Racing has a strong record at Barber. Dixon hopes to use this team strength to his advantage.

With teammates who have excelled at this track, there is hope Dixon can finally secure a win here.

Team Penske: On the Rebound

Team Penske has had a tough start to the 2025 season, with no wins and only one podium and pole in the first three races. Barber Motorsports Park offers a chance for the team to rebound, given their past success at this track.

Team Penske has won the last two races at Barber. They will be looking to keep this streak going.

Scott McLaughlin aims for a third consecutive Barber win, which has never been done before. Josef Newgarden and Will Power also have strong records at this track, giving Team Penske hope for a turnaround.

Qualifying Success

All three Penske cars made it to the Fast 12 session in qualifying for the first time this season. McLaughlin starts second, Power fourth, and Newgarden ninth.

This strong qualifying performance sets up what could be Team Penske’s best weekend so far.

Weather Conditions: A Key Factor

Weather has already played a big role this weekend, with thunderstorms affecting practice and qualifying. Drivers faced tricky conditions on Saturday.

The forecast for race day is favorable, with sunny skies and temperatures around 69 degrees. These conditions should provide a fair race for all drivers.

The green racetrack could still be challenging. The track is physically demanding and hard to drive, so accidents are possible.

Impact of Weather on Qualifying

The threat of rain during qualifying kept drivers on edge. The session remained dry in the end.

This unpredictability added complexity to the weekend, but drivers like Palou managed to handle it well.

Will We See a Caution?

The IndyCar Series has gone without a caution in the past two races, which is unusual. Barber Motorsports Park’s tough layout often leads to incidents, with an average of almost two cautions per race over the last five events.

This weekend has already seen drama, with Pato O’Ward and Marcus Ericsson having major wrecks during practice. O’Ward spun out of Turn 17, while Ericsson’s car nearly flipped in the Turn 13 downhill complex.

Despite these incidents, both drivers participated in qualifying. Ericsson will start from 28th position.

Driver Reactions to Incidents

*Lost the rear and once I got into the grass, you’re pretty much a passenger,* O’Ward explained. He highlighted the challenges posed by the mixed conditions.

Ericsson’s wreck was even more dramatic. He was fortunate to escape with only suspension damage.

As the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix approaches, fans can expect a thrilling race. High stakes and intense competition are expected.

Alex Palou aims to maintain his dominance. Scott Dixon is trying to break his Barber curse, while Team Penske looks to rebound.

With good weather and the chance for cautions, the stage is set for an exciting race.

For more in-depth coverage and analysis, check out the original article on Kickin’ the Tires.