The “issue” facing IndyCar’s front row on Barber race day

Credit: Joe Skibinski

The gap between the front row and third place in Saturday’s IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama qualifying session was relatively comfortable. But the leading pair of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Álex Palou and Team Penske’s David Malukas may have a price to pay.

In contrast to those behind in the order, both drivers opted to use a set of new softer alternate tyres in the Fast Six pole shootout, meaning they have a fresh set fewer of what appears to be the favoured race tyre for Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. 

“We just wanted to make sure once we’re in Fast Six, although we know we’re not going to have two sets of brand-new alternates [for the race], to try to go for pole. And we did,” said pole-sitter Palou. “Hopefully ‘future Álex’ is going to figure out how to balance against new alternates. That’s an issue for tomorrow

“I just thought it was so close between everyone in Fast 12, I wanted to try to get the pole. It normally just depends how we’re feeling, what we’re seeing around us. We thought the best for us to go new [and get pole] for tomorrow.”

Conditions are anticipated to be cooler than usual for the 90-lap race, which the drivers have also theorised could negate the advantage of those with new soft tyres in hand on Sunday.

“Cooler conditions should allow everyone, me included, to push more aggressively,” Palou said. “[The impact] depends so much on the track. There’s tracks where suddenly the gap between new and used, it’s bigger when it’s colder. There’s tracks where it’s the opposite. Hopefully here it’s just not an issue on cooler temps. 

Credit: Sydney Redden

“Normally when you have such cooler temps, you get more downforce so the car is a lot more efficient. If you have, let’s say, two or three laps less on the tyres, it’s not such a big deal. When it’s warmer, you lose a lot of efficiency, then the tyres are working more. It should be a smaller gap but it’s not guaranteed.”

At Penske, the decision was made before the weekend that they would run new tyres should they make the final round. For Malukas, this enabled him to secure a second front-row start in his opening four races with the team, in which he has qualified no worse than ninth.

“Normally when we make one of those decisions we make it early on and commit to it no matter what’s going on around us,” he said. “Obviously we had the opportunity to go for pole. It was actually my call to make a big setup swing change going into the Fast Six. Overdid it. It was a bit on me. [But] very happy with everything. Front row is fantastic.

“If Palou is going to do the same thing like last year and pull away, hopefully we can pull away with him and create a gap before those guys get the new set of reds. Hopefully track rebuilds up and toward the end there is not going to be a big difference.”

The opening lap will be about measure for Malukas, rather than there being desperation to get ahead of Palou in the first instance.

“If the opportunity is there, we’ll go for it. If not, we need to settle in,” he said. “It’s a bit of a game. You don’t want to be pushing so hard, kill your tyres, ruin your race for one position.”

Credit: Sydney Redden

At Barber last year, Palou notched his seventh career pole - a tally is now at 13 after taking seven poles in the last 18 races. He went on to win the race by 16 seconds last May but feels as though his car may be in an even better position almost 11 months on.

“Last year was a perfect race for me,” he said. “It was no cautions; almost no traffic. I had one of these amazing days. It will be tough to replicate. [But] I feel like our car balance is even better than last year.”

This time around, after entering Barber with a 34-point championship lead in 2025, Palou is a little more on the back foot. He sits second in the standings but trails Sunday’s fifth-place starter Kyle Kirkwood by 26 points after three races, though focus on points will come later.

“We’re just trying to do the best we can every single weekend, every single session,” he said. “Once you get closer to the end, maybe you’re just trying to go a bit more aggressive or less depending on where you are in the championship. But I’m talking like last round or two. 

“I feel now, everybody’s trying to get the pole and the win because ultimately that gives you the most points. We’re not really worried or thinking too much about the championship. It’s too early. At the same time, we need to get as many good results as we can.”

Sunday’s FOX Sports race broadcast gets underway at 12:00 CT (18:00 BST) ahead of a 12:17 CT (18:17 BST) green flag.