Barber's roller coaster on the IndyCar menu

The 3,808km route, initially built to host motorcycle races, is preparing to receive theIndyCar for the 14th time. Barber had in fact appeared for the first time on the IndyCar calendar in 2010, with a race won by Helio Castroneves (Penské).

The Barber Motorsports Park complex was built under the leadership of George Barber, and also includes the largest motorcycle museum in the world, a record approved by the Guinness Book! In addition to numerous elevation changes, which provide a challenge at every turn for drivers, the surroundings of the track are full of giant sculptures, the most famous being that of a spider, which overlooks the turns of the "Charlotte's Web" sector ".

This weekend, it is undoubtedly Team Penske which will be scrutinized very closely, just a few days after the disqualifications of Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin from the results in St. Petersburg. Chip Ganassi, owner of a rival team to Penske, spoke to the Associated Press on the subject: “I have emulated Roger Penske for many years, on and off the track, so today's news is very disappointing for me. It is an indelible mark on his team, his organization and the championship. This is very disappointing as a team owner and opponent in the championship. »

The Penske drivers were excluded from the first meeting after the discovery of a modification of the push-to-pass software, which allowed them to use the device during starts and restarts, which is prohibited. Josef Newgarden thus enters the Barber event in 11th place in the general classification, with the 34 points he gleaned in Long Beach. On a track where he won his first IndyCar race in 2015, the Tennessee native will be keen to show that his dominating performance in St. Petersburg had nothing to do with any cheating.

A second top 10 in a row for Grosjean?

Second in this event last year after a constant fight against Scott McLaughlin, Romain Grosjean would like to replicate such a performance with his new team, Juncos Hollinger Racing. The Frenchman remains in a good eighth position on the streets of Long Beach, and on a qualification in fifth place during the season opener in St. Petersburg. Benefiting this year from a technical alliance with the team McLaren, the JHR team can hope for great things on the road tracks.

As for McLaren, we hope to continue the momentum of 2023 and 2022, the year when Pato O'Ward won on this track. The orange cars are usually fast on permanent tracks, and the team was able to unexpectedly celebrate a victory on the streets of St. Petersburg this week! Theo Pourchaire will, for his part, perform a second stint replacing David Malukas.

90 laps will be on the program for this third round of the season, the last before the legendary month of May, which will take place entirely in Indianapolis with the Grand Prix on May 11 and the 500 Miles 15 days later.

2024 Alabama Grand Prix – Program

Friday, April 26
21h40 - 22h55  : Free Practice 1 (IndyCarLive.com)
Saturday, April 27
18h15 - 19h15 : Free Practice 2 (IndyCarLive.com)
21h - 23h00 : Qualifying (IndyCarLive.com)
Sunday, April 28
16h15 - 16h45 : Warm-Up (IndyCarLive.com)
19h : Race (Canal+ Sport)