MOTORSPORT AMERICA EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS – INDY CAR GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING AT BARBER!
MOTORSPORT AMERICA EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS – CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA INDYCAR GRAND PRIX AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK!
by Derek Jackson
Birmingham April 27th, 2024 – The NTT IndyCar Series returned to the Great State of Alabama this weekend and Motorsport America was there to capture all the exciting action!
Barber Motorsports Park has hosted the premier open wheel racing series since 2010, and excitement was high to watch the stars of the IndyCar circuit to cover the 2.8 mile road course in Birmingham! Saturday’s practice and qualifying session took place at “The Augusta National of Motorsports”, and fans were thrilled with the spectacle and drama that unfolded on the track!
Earlier this week it was announce that Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin disqualified the drivers from their # 1 and # 3 podium finishes at the season opener at St. Petersburg. IndyCar officials deemed the team to have violated rules around the use of its push-to-pass system for the race held 45 days ago. Team Pense President Tim Cindric released a statement explaining that the team had not removed the push-to-pass software it had been using during preseason hybrid testing ahead of the season-opener that allowed for early deployment, leading to the rules violation.
Prior to the rules violation both Newgarden and McLaughlin were Nos. 1 and 3 in the IndyCar Series points standings. After the hammer-drop, both drivers fell completely out of the top ten. The penalty must have given the two drivers resolve, as they both swept the front row in Saturday’s qualifying session for the Children’s of Alabama IndyCar Grand Prix with Newgarden being the Pole Winner and McLaughlin coming in 2nd.
Penske had called a roughly 15-minute meeting before qualifying with all the IndyCar team owners in attendance, which was described as candid, bothered and very honest. Bobby Rahal told IndyStar, “Roger’s not in there making excuses. You’ve got to believe he may never have been more embarrassed in his life. His team let him down, and he’s not standing by for it”.
Rahal added, “I don’t believe for a moment that Roger knew of it, let alone condoned it or approved of it, and I really do believe he’s very embarrassed. I feel bad for Roger. I don’t think anyone has ever accused him of trying to break the rules – particularly with the role he’s in now, where he owns the series. I think he’s very bothered by it, and I think the team put Roger in a bad position.”
The penalty violations against Team Penske certainly added drama to the weekend but for the race fans that were in attendance, all the excitement lay on the racetrack in front of them.
Please enjoy all these incredible images from the IndyCar practice and qualifying session at Barber Motorsports Park by our amazing photographers at Motorsport America!
The scene along pit road at Barber!Scott McLaughlin is tight and fast in the turns on his way to winning the Pole Position for the 2024 Childrens of Alabama IndyCar Grand Prix!Will Power thrills the crowd as seen in this awesome photo by the Motorsport America Staff!Josef Newgarden, looking to put the drama of the past week behind him, powers his No. 2 Team Penske through the turns at Barber!Sting Ray Robb flies up the backstretch at Barber in his Pray.com Make Prayer a Priority AJ Foyt Racing Chevy!Scott Dixon of New Zealand is the winningest active driver in the NTT IndyCar Series and a Six Time IndyCar Series Champion! He is seen here qualifying at Barber for the Children’s of Alabama IndyCar Grand Prix for Chip Ganassi Racing is his No. 9 Honda Powered PNC Bank car!Linus Lundqvist driving his No.8 Chip Ganassi Be the One American Legion Honda at Barber!Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing qualifying his No. 15 Honda at Barber!Theo Pourchaire leads Agustin Canapino through the chicane during the practice session at Barber!Pato O’Ward driving his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet!Marcus Armstrong of New Zealand flies up the backstretch in his No. 11 Chip Gnassi Racing Honda front of the Fan-Zone at Barber!Tom Blomqvist, born in England and raised in New Zealand, drives his No. 66 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing.Marcus Armstrong powers his No. 11 Chip Gnassi Racing Honda through the turns at Barber!The No. 30 Honda driven by Pietro Fittipaldi of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing leads Jack Harvey and his No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.Marcus Armstrong in his No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing Root Insurance Honda!Alexander Rossi, who hails from California, is seen here driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren.No. 28 Marcus Ericsson from Sweden passes Rinus Veekay of the Netherlands during the practice session on the inside of Turn 6 at Barber!Alexander Rossi, seen here in his No. 7 Chevy powered Velo Nicotine Pouches Arrow McLaren.Linus Lunqvist in the No. 8 Be The One American Legion Honda speeds past Romain Grosjean on the backstretch at Barber!Josef Newgarden exits turn 7 at Barber!Santino Ferrucci slides off the track!Santino Ferrucci and the A.J. Foyt pit crew perform a tire change under the watchful eyes of a pit lane official!Christian Rasmussen of Denmark in his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Guy Care Chevy!Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske on their way to claim the pole position for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber!It was a Beautiful Day for racing at Barber Motorsports Park!Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson in his No. 28 Andretti Global – Delaware Life Honda!The No. 30 Honda driven by Pietro Fittipaldi of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing leads Jack Harvey and his No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.Kyle Kirkwood who hails from Florida, qualifying in his No. 27 Andretti Global AutoNation Honda!Sting Ray Robb’s No. 41 Pray.com Make Prayer a Priority A.J. Foyt Chevrolet.Theo Pourchaire from France behind the wheel of his No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet!2023 Children’s of Alabama Champion Scott McLaughlin on his way to grabbing the Pole Award for the 2024 Race!Josef Newgarden of Hendersonville, Tennessee pilots his No. 2 PPG Chevy around the Alabama road course!Will Power rounding the famed Charlotte’s Web curve at Barber Motorsports Park!Scott McLaughlin and his Team Penske Chevy on his way to capturing the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber!Scott Dixon of New Zealand, the winningest active driver in the NTT IndyCar Series, is seen here qualifying in his No. 9 Chip Gnassi Racing Honda Powered PNC Bank racecar!Alex Palou leads Theo Pourchaire through the chicane at Turns 10 & 11 at Barber Motorsports Park!Born in Barbados and raised in the Cayman Islands, Kyffin Simpson slows his No. 4 Chip Ganassi Honda under the red flags at Barber!The crowd at Barber Motorsports Park filled over the hillside to watch the exciting action on the road course in Birmingham!
