The NTT IndyCar series competed at Barber Motorsports Park this past weekend, and beautiful weather greeted the paddock as the raced through the hills of the Alabama countryside.
A tire strategy battle was the story of the early portion of the race, but then an inopportune caution come out just before halfway and brought drivers on two and three stop strategies together behind the safety car.
Sting Ray Robb was the driver that brought out the caution, with his car suddenly losing power and stopping on track.
READ MORE: IndyCar Barber – Full Race Results
From then on, it was the drivers that chose the three-stop strategy that had a marked advantage because they did not have to save fuel and were able to push for the rest of the day.
While strategy choices of the teams whittled a few drivers out of contention, and it was a titanic rematch between Romain Grosjean and Scott McLaughlin that played itself out near the end of the race.
The Frenchman was not able to hold McLaughlin off for long, however, and the Kiwi took the lead for good on lap 71. He ended up crossing the finish line a comfortable 2.5 seconds up the road from Grosjean.
It was McLaughlin’s first win of the 2023 season, and vaulted him up to the fourth spot in the overall points standings heading into the Month of May.
Grosjean earned his second consecutive podium with his effort, and was able to hold off a charging Will Power on the final lap despite being complete out of his Push to Pass.
Pato O’Ward came home in fourth, but was a full 20 seconds behind the leaders. He was among the group of drivers that was not able to use his car to fullest on account of having to save fuel for much of the day.
Rounding out the top five was Alex Palou, who has always done really well at this track. He also finds himself high in the points after continuing his streak of finishing in the top 10 at every race.
Christian Lundgaard was as impressive in Sunday’s race as he was in the opening practice, and tied Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s best result of the season with a sixth.
There was only one retirement all afternoon, and all 26 drivers that saw the checkered flag did so on the lead lap.
A single weekend off awaits the field, and when they gather again it will be at the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. First is a race around the road course, then it’s full attention for the Indianapolis 500.
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