IndyCar Barber Qualifying Results – Alex Palou claims pole

Full 2025 IndyCar Barber Qualifying Results – Alex Palou delivered a masterclass to seize pole position for Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.

The session, held under shifting weather conditions and immense competitive pressure, culminated in a dramatic finale that saw the pole position change hands four times in the last 40 seconds.

Ultimately, it was championship leader Alex Palou who emerged at the top, clocking a blistering lap of 1:07.2918 in his No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

The Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix pole position marked his first in the 2025 IndyCar season and seventh in his career, underscoring his dominance and consistency at the highest level of open-wheel racing.

The qualifying format at Barber followed the traditional knockout style where the field is split into two groups for the opening round. The fastest drivers from each group progress to the next segment, eventually narrowing the field to the Firestone Fast Six-where the pole position is ultimately decided.

The session was notable for its intensity with the ever-present threat of rain subsiding just in time to allow the entire qualifying to run on dry Firestone tires, giving every driver a fair shot at the top spot.

After a solid showing in practice sessions-where he trailed only David Malukas in the second session-Palou timed his final run to perfection.

His first lap in the Fast Six was not his best but the Spaniard regrouped and delivered a flawless second attempt on the alternate tire compound, snatching pole from his rivals in the dying moments of the session.

Palou’s affinity for Barber is well documented; it was here in 2021 that he claimed his maiden IndyCar victory and this latest achievement adds another chapter to his growing legacy at the Alabama circuit.

Scott McLaughlin, the reigning two-time winner at Barber and a formidable force with Team Penske, came agonizingly close to securing his third consecutive pole at the venue. His best lap of 1:07.4387 was just 0.1469 seconds shy of Palou’s benchmark.

Andretti Global’s Colton Herta locked into third on the grid ahead of Team Penske’s Will Power in fourth. Power’s session was not without drama as he encountered issues exiting the pit lane and exceeded the speed limit but he managed to recover and secure a strong starting position.

Rinus VeeKay delivered a standout performance for Dale Coyne Racing to qualify fifth while Arrow McLaren rookie Nolan Siegel impressed by setting a 1:08.0470 to round out the Firestone Fast Six.

Just outside the top six, Christian Lundgaard of Ed Carpenter Racing secured seventh, narrowly missing out on the Fast Six but showing strong pace throughout the session. Pato O’Ward qualified eighth, rebounding from a significant crash in practice to deliver a solid performance.

Josef Newgarden finished ninth for Team Penske while Chip Ganassi’s Kyffin Simpson completed the top ten with a composed drive in qualifying.

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Further down the order, Marcus Armstrong claimed 11th followed by Louis Foster in 12th. Santino Ferrucci, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alexander Rossi occupied positions 13 through 15, each showcasing flashes of speed but unable to advance to the final qualifying shootout.

Callum Ilott, Christian Rasmussen and Kyle Kirkwood-who entered the weekend second in the championship standings-rounded out the top eighteen, with all three drivers hoping for better fortunes in the race.

The qualifying session was not without its share of incidents and misfortune. Christian Rasmussen experienced a dramatic spin but managed to avoid the barriers though the incident ultimately compromised his session and left him starting 17th.

Scott Dixon suffered a rare setback after his day was undone by a small mistake in the opening round, relegating him to a lowly 26th on the grid.

2025 IndyCar Barber Qualifying Results