IndyCar hopes to continue its great start at the Children’s Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend. Three series streaks look to continue beginning Friday. So far in the busy early season, the three races have produced three different pole sitters and three different race winners. The first three races have also drawn more than a million television viewers. All three streaks could fall, or perhaps none of them will.
Of the three winners in2026 two have won at Barber multiple times. Alex Palou has won twice, in 2021 and 2025. Josef Newgarden has won three times, in 2015, 2017, and 2018.The track has produced back to back winnersfour times.
In addition to Newgarden, Will Power won the first two races in 2010 and 2011. Ryan Hunter-Reay won in 2013 and 2014. Scott McLaughlin scored victories in 2023 and 2024. Team Penske has won eight times at Barber.
The pole is a different story. Power has three poles-2010,2011, and 2014.Helio Castroneves has started first twice. The other 10 races each have a different one time pole sitter. Thye odds of a fourth different pole sitter for the current season are much better that the chances for a fourth different winner.
Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden are the favorites entering the weekend, followed by Pato O’Ward and Will Power.
Andretti Global’s weakness has been natural road courses, and for points leader Kyle Kirkwood, Barber is a big test of where the team stands on the natural roads.
The 16th running of the Grand Prix will be the first without the track’s founder, George Barber, who died February 16. I never had a chance to meet him, but I have a lot of respect for the work he did to create this gorgeous track and the amazing museum on the grounds. I hope a memorial tribute will be part of the pre race ceremonies.
Television ratings for this race are my main area of concern. Can they hit the 1 million mark again? This is the first race of the new season I have doubts about that.
If there is to be a fourth different winner for the year, I will go with Will Power. He is fast here and knows how to win. At Arlington two weeks ago, Power grabbed his first podium with Andretti, and I think he has shaken off his early season issues.
While O’Ward has been consistent early, I haven’t seen enough pace from McLaren to contend for wins. Sunday could be the day this team makes a statement that they are in the hunt this year. McLaren has bee quick here, with a win and a pole. The victory is O’Ward’s only podium in Alabama.
Notes
Qualifying will return to normal procedure this weekend. The single car Fast Six needs some tweaks before it returns. I presented my thoughts in my post qualiofying post after Arlindton.
Only one set of alternate tires are required for this week’s race.
Scott Dixon has nine podiums but zero wins at Barber.
Two weeks late, but IndyCar penalized Kyffin Simpson for avoidable contact on the last lap at Arlington. Simpson was dropped one place to 20th, and Felix Rosenqvist moved to 19th. I don’t know what took so long. I could understand if this happened later the same week, but two weeks? Imagine this situation after the Indianapolis 500.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 