Birmingham, AL

  • Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou goes back-to-back in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Barber Motorsports Park
  • Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal scores first podium finish since 2023
  • Kyle Kirkwood retains championship lead with fourth-consecutive top-five result to kick off the 2026 season

Alex Palou returned to the site of his first-career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory, Barber Motorsports Park, to score his 21st career win and second victory of the 2026 IndyCar Series season.

The Spaniard took the win in dominant fashion, leading 79 of 90 laps of the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix and taking the checkered flag 13 seconds ahead of second place. This is Palou's third win at Barber Motorsports Park, following victories in 2021 as well as in an HRC US-liveried Chip Ganassi Racing Honda last year.

Today's win, combined with his victory in the season opener at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, has the reigning and four-time series champion sitting second in the championship points standings, just two points out of the lead.

Palou shared the podium with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal, who started third and finished third in a strong weekend for his #15 RLL Honda team. The American driver last stood on the podium at the 2023 Gallagher Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Championship points leader Kyle Kirkwood finished fifth on the day in his Andretti Global Honda—extending his streak of four top-five results to kick off this 2026 season, including a win last time out at Arlington. Kirkwood is the only driver to finish in the top five in every race this season.

Elsewhere in the top 10 for Honda; Marcus Armstrong came home sixth for Meyer Shank Racing, followed by fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon in seventh and another Marcus, Marcus Ericsson, in ninth.

Will Power was the biggest mover of the day, advancing 11 positions following an accident in qualifying to finish 12th in his Andretti Global Honda.

Today's race at Barber Motorsports Park ran caution-free for all 90 laps.

Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Honda Race Results

1st Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
3rd Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
5th Kyle Kirkwood Andretti Global Honda
6th Marcus Armstrong Meyer Shank Racing Honda
7th Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
9th Marcus Ericsson Andretti Global Honda
12th Will Power Andretti Global Honda
13th Felix Rosenqvist Meyer Shank Racing Honda
15th Romain Grosjean Dale Coyne Racing Honda
20th Kyffin Simpson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
23rd Dennis Hauger - R Dale Coyne Racing Honda
24th Mick Schumacher - R Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
25th Louis Foster Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda

R – Rookie

Quotes

Alex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finished first: "What a race here at Barber! It was an incredible day for the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. We struggled a little bit in the middle of the race, but the beginning and the ending stints were amazing. The car balance was insanely good, and our strategy and pit stops were excellent once again. Thank you to all the fans who came out here today and showed their support. Now, we will all get a bit of rest and an opportunity to reset, but I can't wait to get back to it in a couple of weeks at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach."

Graham Rahal (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda) finished third: "It's been a great day for the RLL team, for Honda, and for everyone involved. For Honda to have two out of the three spots on the podium was awesome. But this result means a lot to us at RLL. We've worked our butts off to get back to this point as a team, and it's really refreshing to be rewarded for it. I'm super happy for everybody and hopefully we can keep this momentum going."

Kelvin Fu (Vice President, Honda Racing Corporation USA): "It's wonderful to be at Barber. It was a great way to start the weekend with all five Honda teams in the Firestone Fast Six in qualifying. It really shows the depth of talent within our Honda-powered teams. And it's great to end the weekend with a flawless drive from Alex and the Chip Ganassi team! Huge congrats as well to Graham and RLL on a super well-earned podium! This is the perfect way to go into our home race at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach where we can celebrate the hard work of all of our drivers, teams and Honda and HRC US associates."

Next

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach for the home race of American Honda and Honda Racing Corporation USA.

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