Alex Palou finds second win of 2026 at Barber

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alex Palou achieves his second win of the NTT INDYCAR Series season in an all-green Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.

This is his 21st career win and his 47th career podium overall.

Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal joined Palou on the podium, though the order nearly played out very differently.

As the final pit cycle approached, Lundgaard was on a charge. He rapidly closed a gap that had swelled to over seven seconds to around three seconds.

Sensing the threat, Palou ducked onto pit road first for damage mitigation; But the traffic he rejoined stalled his progress enough that a clean Lundgaard stop would have vaulted the Arrow McLaren driver ahead of him.

It never came to be.

What should have been a routine seven-second stop stretched to 17 when the crew struggled to fit the right-rear tire, turning a potential battle for the win into a scramble for the podium.

Graham Rahal, who had more worn-in tires, swept past him in the process for second.

With his only threat for the win firmly behind, Palou stretched his advantage to eleven seconds and ultimately crossed the line over thirteen clear.

The Final Run

While it was smooth sailing for Palou up front, the final podium positions were to be decided.

Once Lundgaard’s tires came to temperature, he was all over Rahal for second and made the pass for good with under five laps to go for the second step on the podium.

“It’s unfortunate” Said Lundgaard about how his race unraveled. “I don’t know if it was my fault or not [the pit stop], but I just wanted to repass Graham [Rahal]”.

Despite the disappointment, he kept perspective. “I don’t think we can be unhappy with a tenth to second.”

Rahal was equally measured after a strong weekend. “Great day for us, just all weekend… I felt like this was coming,” he said.

He also commented on the run to the line. “Trying to fend Christian off was tough, but we’re pretty pleased with this.” A third-place podium finish will do just fine for the veteran driver.

David Malukas captured his second top-ten of the season in fourth with his overall solid weekend at Barber.

Kyle Kirkwood started fifth and finished fifth and crucially maintained his championship lead over Alex Palou by two points. He now heads to his favorite street course of Long Beach for the next event.

The back half of the top ten featured Marcus Armstrong in sixth, Scott Dixon who delivered another vintage charge from 13th to seventh, Santino Ferrucci in eighth, Marcus Ericsson in ninth, and Josef Newgarden rounding out the top ten.

Below is the full race results for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.

Race Results