Colton Herta enters this weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park hoping to finally turn his early practice speed into a strong qualifying and race performance, after years of showing promise that hasn’t quite reached its peak. Over the past four years, Herta has never placed worse than fourth in practice sessions at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course, but his best qualifying effort has been ninth and his top race finish eighth. The upcoming race on Sunday, airing at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app, presents an opportunity for Herta to break through these barriers and achieve results that match his pace.
Despite consistent speed in practice, Herta has struggled to convert it to competitive qualifying performances, which has affected his race outcomes.
This is my worst track, by far, for qualifying,
Herta admitted.
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 event could mark a turning point as Herta showed strong potential right from Friday’s first practice, posting a time of 1 minute, 7.7728 seconds and finishing third, despite Andretti Global opting out of the March 11 test at Barber along with Chip Ganassi Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing. His teammate Marcus Ericsson led the session with a 1:07.7470 lap in the No. 28 Bryant Honda, but Herta’s impressive pace underlines his raw speed and a more refined approach.
In contrast to previous years when he admitted to misreading both the car and the fluctuating track conditions, Herta arrives with improved self-awareness and clearer technical insights, giving him a more precise understanding of what the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda needs for qualifying at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Today was one of the more important sessions of the weekend because you get both sets of tires,
Herta explained.
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.
Alongside Herta’s challenge, Alex Palou arrives at Barber Motorsports Park boosted by momentum and a striking new look that may also provide a psychological advantage. The points leader for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will sport the white, red, and blue Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) livery instead of the yellow-and-red DHL design he wore in the first three events. This connection to the offseason crossover test in Las Vegas, where Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda drove an INDYCAR car with the same colors, may strengthen Palou’s confidence as he targets another strong showing.
Palou continued to demonstrate his pace on Friday with a 1:07.7602 lap in practice, just fractions behind Ericsson’s top time. His history at Barber also shows he is a consistent force, winning his debut there in 2021 and never finishing outside the top five in four career starts. With an average finish of 3.3 at this circuit—the best among all drivers since 2021—Palou is clearly a contender to watch in the 90-lap race on Sunday.
Will Power brings a different storyline to Barber. Holding the record for the most poles at the track with four, as part of his all-time tally of 70 poles in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Power faces questions about whether he can secure a fifth pole this weekend. Despite his admiration for Barber’s demanding layout and a strong fourth-place practice finish in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, his qualifying has been inconsistent so far in 2025. An average starting position of 15.7 across three races, including a disappointing 21st at The Thermal Club, suggests that Team Penske is still seeking to unlock its full one–lap speed potential this season.
Still, Power’s endurance and consistency in practice provide hope for a turnaround at Barber. He completed 19 solid laps on Friday, posting a best time of 1:07.7869, just .0399 seconds behind Ericsson’s session-best.
It’s funny that you go through those cycles,
Power reflected.
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.
Another notable story is Scott McLaughlin’s recent achievement of United States citizenship, a milestone he earned on Tuesday, April 29. Originally from New Zealand, McLaughlin moved to the U.S. in late 2020 with his American wife, Karly, to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Team Penske. The 31-year-old driver has won seven times in 71 starts, including the past two events at Barber, where he has found particular success. The couple recently settled in North Carolina and welcomed their first child, Lucy, adding a new dimension to McLaughlin’s life as he continues racing.
Graham Rahal hopes to improve his qualifying pace this weekend after showing solid race performances but struggling to find speed in qualifying sessions so far this year. Rahal has qualifying pedigree at Barber, having started second in 2019 and achieving top finishes including two second-place results in his past career. Last year, Rahal qualified seventh and ran inside the top five for much of the early race, but untimely cautions and a two-stop strategy dropped him to 11th in the final results.
This season, Rahal has demonstrated strong race pace but continues to grapple with qualifying challenges, gaining multiple positions in races after starting toward the back of the field. After climbing from 21st to 12th at St. Petersburg and from 18th to 11th at The Thermal Club, Rahal experienced a setback at Long Beach, finishing 22nd after starting 16th. On Friday, he ranked 18th quickest among 27 drivers, aware that Saturday’s NTT P1 Award qualifying is vital for any hopes of competing for a win in his No. 15 Hendrickson International Honda.
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.
Takuma Sato faces a setback ahead of the iconic Indianapolis 500 as his primary No. 75 AMADA Honda chassis was too badly damaged after crashing into the Turn 1 SAFER Barrier during last week’s “boosted” qualifying simulation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Open Test. Sato, a two-time Indy 500 winner, had topped the speed charts before the crash, highlighting his potential for a third victory at the prestigious event. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing now must prepare a new car for him as the team looks to keep their strong momentum going.
The Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge officially begins practice on Tuesday, May 13, as teams prepare for one of the most challenging and celebrated races of the year.
As the weekend unfolds at Barber Motorsports Park, the focus remains firmly on converting potential into results. Colton Herta’s pursuit of breakthrough pace is emblematic of this effort, with improved insights, a strong practice showing, and a clear determination backing his quest to climb into the Firestone Fast Six and contend for a higher finish than ever before. Meanwhile, fellow contenders like Alex Palou, Will Power, Scott McLaughlin, Graham Rahal, and Takuma Sato continue to shape a competitive field, promising an intense and thrilling race that could influence the championship as the season accelerates into its next phase.
