Ericsson dominates Barber IndyCar practice 1

Marcus Ericsson emerged as the fastest driver in the opening Barber IndyCar practice as Andretti Global occupied two spots in the top three.

The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series round at Barber Motorsports Park commenced with a highly competitive and eventful first practice session on Friday, setting the stage for a thrilling race weekend in Birmingham, Alabama.

Marcus Ericsson’s performance in Barber IndyCar Practice 1 was a statement of both pace and precision. Piloting the No. 28 Bryant Honda, the Swedish driver clocked a best lap time of 1:07.7470, achieved on the Firestone alternate compound tires.

The early pace at the circuit renowned for its technical demands and physical challenges is a promising sign for Ericsson as he seeks to climb the standings, where he currently sits 12th after three races in the 2025 season.

Directly behind Ericsson was the ever-consistent Chip Ganassi’s Alex Palou. The reigning series champion and current points leader continued his impressive form by posting a lap just 0.0132 seconds off the benchmark, recording a 1:07.7602 in the No. 10 HRC Honda.

Palou’s performance was emblematic of his season thus far marked by two victories and a runner-up finish in the opening three rounds. His ability to immediately adapt to the unique challenges of the 17-turn, 2.3-mile Barber Motorsports Park road course reinforced his status as the benchmark for the field.

Ericsson’s Andretti Global teammate Colton Herta completed the top three with a best lap of 1:07.7728 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Herta’s speed ensured that Andretti had two cars in the top three, a testament to the team’s preparation for the weekend.

The Barber IndyCar Practice 1 session was not without its share of drama and moments of high tension. Two-time and reigning Barber winner Scott McLaughlin experienced a heart-stopping moment early in the session when he ran off into the grass exiting Turn 17.

Despite the off-track excursion in his No. 3 Good Ranchers Team Penske Chevrolet, McLaughlin managed to avoid contact and continued, later showcasing his car control with a spectacular power slide that drew admiration from onlookers.

Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing also found himself exploring the limits of the circuit, going off into the gravel in his No. 60 SiriusXM Honda.

Like McLaughlin, Rosenqvist avoided any significant damage and was able to rejoin the session but his off-track adventure was a reminder of the ever-present risk at Barber, where a small mistake can quickly become a major setback.

Beyond the headline-grabbing performances and incidents the session saw a tightly bunched field with the top ten drivers separated by less than half a second.

Team Penske’s Will Power (1m07.7869s) was fourth ahead of Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi (1m07.8098s) while Penske’s Josef Newgarden took sixth (1m07.8667s), with the trio separated by only 0.1197s.

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