IndyCar solved a lingering problem by having its first three races of the 2026 season on back-to-back-to-back weekends, and it has paid off in the form of massive boost in TV ratings.
While the series had off this past weekend, the NTT IndyCar Series is looking to continue that momentum into the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, which is race number four of the sport's first 18-race calendar since 2014 this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.
Passing is certainly manageable at Barber, but the 17-turn, 2.38-mile (3.83-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Birmingham, Alabama is one for which qualifying position has historically been very important.
The past two Barber winners have started on pole, with Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin winning at the track for the second time in 2024 and Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou also winning there for the second time in 2025. Not since 2017 has the race been won by a driver who did not start on the first or second row.
In 15 races, no Barber winner has started lower than ninth, and the average starting position for a winner is 2.87. How important will qualifying be this weekend?
Follow along with our live qualifying updates from Barber Motorsports Park.
Barber IndyCar qualifying
Barber IndyCar qualifying: Round 1, Group 1 results
1 - Alex Palou, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
2 - Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
3 - Graham Rahal, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
4 - Marcus Armstrong, No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
5 - Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
6 - Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
7 - Scott Dixon, No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
8 - Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
9 - Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
10 - Kyffin Simpson, No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
11 - Caio Collet, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
12 - Will Power, No. 26 Andretti Global Honda
Barber IndyCar qualifying: Round 1, Group 2 results
1 - Kyle Kirkwood, No. 27 Andretti Global Honda
2 - David Malukas, No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet
3 - Romain Grosjean, No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
4 - Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet
5 - Marcus Ericsson, No. 28 Andretti Global Honda
6 - Pato O'Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
7 - Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet
8 - Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
9 - Felix Rosenqvist, No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
10 - Mick Schumacher, No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
11 - Louis Foster, No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
12 - Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
13 - Dennis Hauger, No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Barber IndyCar qualifying: Round 2 results
1 - Kyle Kirkwood, No. 27 Andretti Global Honda
2 - Alex Palou, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
3 - David Malukas, No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet
4 - Marcus Armstrong, No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
5 - Graham Rahal, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
6 - Romain Grosjean, No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
7 - Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
8 - Marcus Ericsson, No. 28 Andretti Global Honda
9 - Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet
10 - Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
11 - Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
12 - Pato O'Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Barber IndyCar qualifying: Firestone Fast Six results
1 - Alex Palou, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
2 - David Malukas, No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet
3 - Graham Rahal, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
4 - Marcus Armstrong, No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
5 - Kyle Kirkwood, No. 27 Andretti Global Honda
6 - Romain Grosjean, No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Full Barber IndyCar starting lineup
1 - Alex Palou, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
2 - David Malukas, No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet
3 - Graham Rahal, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
4 - Marcus Armstrong, No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
5 - Kyle Kirkwood, No. 27 Andretti Global Honda
6 - Romain Grosjean, No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
7 - Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
8 - Marcus Ericsson, No. 28 Andretti Global Honda
9 - Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet
10 - Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
11 - Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
12 - Pato O'Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
13 - Scott Dixon, No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
14 - Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet
15 - Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
16 - Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
17 - Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
18 - Felix Rosenqvist, No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
19 - Kyffin Simpson, No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
20 - Mick Schumacher, No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
21 - Caio Collet, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
22 - Louis Foster, No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
23 - Will Power, No. 26 Andretti Global Honda
24 - Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
25 - Dennis Hauger, No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Tune in to Fox at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 29 for the live broadcast of the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix from Barber Motorsports Park. Begin a free trial of FuboTV today if you have not yet done so!
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