Colton Herta has consistently shown early practice speed at Barber Motorsports Park – placing no worse than fourth over the past four years. However, that early promise hasn’t translated into standout race results at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn natural-terrain road course.

Despite his practice pace, Herta’s best qualifying effort at Barber is ninth in 2019 and 2021, and his best race finish is eighth last year.

“This is my worst track, by far, for qualifying,” Herta said. “I think the racing part is because we qualify so badly here. Qualifying, I just sucked here. It’s the only track (on the 2025 schedule) that I’ve gone to that I’ve not made the (Firestone) Fast Six. I’d love to change that.”

This weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst, airing at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network, suggests a turning point.

Andretti Global was among three teams, joining Chip Ganassi Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing, that didn’t partake in the test March 11 at Barber, but Herta still placed third in Friday’s opening practice with a strong lap of 1 minute, 7.7728 seconds. Teammate Marcus Ericsson was first at 1:07.7470 in the No. 28 Bryant Honda.

That’s a testament to his raw pace and refined approach. Unlike in previous years when he admitted to misreading the car and the evolving track conditions, Herta brings improved self-awareness and technical clarity to attacking the Barber race weekend.

That includes having a more precise vision of what he needs from the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda leading into qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

“Today was one of the more important sessions of the weekend because you get both sets of tires,” Herta said. “I’m happy with it. Feels like we’re the only team who didn’t test here in the winter. The team really made a statement to roll off the trucks with speed.

“I do think we have some more left in the tank, but I’m not sure what everybody else has.”

New Colors for Palou

Alex Palou’s return to Barber Motorsports Park comes with momentum and a fresh look – and possibly a psychological edge.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader is running the striking Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) white, red and blue livery this weekend, swapping out the familiar, yellow-and-red DHL livery used in the season’s first three events. The HRC branding connects him back to the offseason crossover test in Las Vegas where Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda drove an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car with the same livery.

Performance-wise, Palou picked up right where he left off after finishing second at Long Beach. His 1:07.7602 lap in Friday’s practice placed him just behind leader Ericsson (1:07.7470), showing that he and his No. 10 HRC Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing have once again nailed their baseline setup.

His history at Barber suggests he will be a factor in Sunday’s 90-lap race. Palou won in his Barber debut in 2021 and never has finished outside the top five in four career starts. Palou’s average finish of 3.3 at Barber is best among all drivers since 2021.

Power Aims for Better Qualifying

Will Power arrived at Barber with a rich qualifying pedigree. His four poles at the Alabama road course are the most of any driver and part of his all-time record of 70 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. However, recent form casts some doubt on whether he can add a fifth Saturday.

Despite his glowing praise for Barber’s high-commitment layout and ending up fourth in the opening practice in his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Power’s 2025 qualifying performances have been underwhelming.

His average start of 15.7 across three starts, including a low of 21st at The Thermal Club, suggests Team Penske hasn’t fully unlocked its one-lap pace yet this year.

That said, there are reasons to believe this could be a turnaround weekend for Power.

He turned 19 solid laps in Friday’s practice with a top time of 1:07.7869, just .0399 of a second behind leader Ericsson.

“It’s funny that you go through those cycles,” Power said. “Last year, I was quite strong, but this year is a bit of a softer tire, and things change a little.

“It hasn't necessarily been pace. We’re definitely quick in all the practices and in the race. So that's a goal for tomorrow, see if we can make it in the Fast Six and Top 12 to start with, because we haven't done that this year.”

McLaughlin Becomes U.S. Citizen

Scott McLaughlin, a New Zealand native, became a dual citizen Tuesday, April 29, as he earned United States citizenship.

McLaughlin moved to the United States in late 2020 with his American wife, Karly, to become an NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver with Team Penske. The 31-year-old has seven wins in 71 starts, including the last two years at Barber.

The married couple closed on a house in North Carolina after the 2023 season and became parents to their first child, Lucy, after the 2024 season.

Rahal Seeks Strong Qualifying Pace

Graham Rahal has previously qualified well at Barber Motorsports Park. The second-generation driver started second in 2019 and finished in that spot twice (2015-16). Last year, he qualified seventh and used a two-stop strategy, allowing him to run inside the top five for the early portions of the race.

Rahal said the timing of cautions didn’t dovetail with his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team’s strategy last year, dropping him to an 11th-place finish.

This season, Rahal has produced strong race days but experienced qualifying woes. He gained 16 positions in the first two races, charging from 21st to finish 12th in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding and climbing from 18th to 11th in The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix.

At the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Rahal started 16th and finished 22nd.

Rahal, who was 18th quickest among 27 drivers Friday, is aware Saturday’s NTT P1 Award qualifying session is crucial if he wants any shot of competing for a win in his No. 15 Hendrickson International Honda in Sunday’s 90-lap race.

“Our race pace is quite good in most places, but qualifying continues to be the Achilles heel for the team,” Rahal said. “We continue to work on that and improve on that. Fingers crossed we made all the right decisions and changes”

Sato Getting New Indy 500 Car

Takuma Sato badly damaged his primary Indianapolis 500 race car when he pounded the Turn 1 SAFER Barrier in last week’s “boosted” qualifying simulation practice during the Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sato had the quickest lap on the overall speed chart and the non-tow chart before the crash.

The car's chassis was too badly damaged and deemed unusable, leaving Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing no choice but to replace the No. 75 AMADA Honda with a new car.

Sato is a two-time “500” winner and hopes to join the short list of 10 other drivers who have won the “500” three or more times.

Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice starts Tuesday, May 13.

Odds and Ends

  • Every other year since 2021, the quickest driver in the opening practice session won the race. Palou was quickest in 2021 and McLaughlin in 2023. Each was victorious that year. Can Ericsson, who was fastest in the No. 28 Bryant Honda on Friday, follow suit? He has a 36-race winless drought dating to the 2023 season opener at St. Petersburg and a best Barber finish of seventh in 2019.
  • Six drivers have qualified in the top 10 for all three races this season, all powered by Honda engines. Meyer Shank Racing teammates Marcus Armstrong (fourth, seventh, seventh), Felix Rosenqvist (third, ninth, fourth) are joined by Andretti Global teammates Herta (second, fourth, second), Ericsson (seventh, fifth, fifth) and Kyle Kirkwood (ninth, eighth, first). Points leader Palou (eighth, third, third) is also three-for-three.
  • Scott Dixon visited Great Beginnings Learning Center in Leeds, Alabama, on Thursday to read books to the students and show his racing helmet, fire suit and gloves to the children. It's part of PNC Bank's Grow Up Great program, which helps support early-childhood education efforts around the country.