Alex Palou wins pre-Indy 500 race at Barber Motorsports Park

Spanish driver Alex Palou’s journey to glory at the Indianapolis 500 takes places over the course of the next few weeks, but Palou got off to a great start on Sunday in Brimingham, AL.

Palou breezed to victory for the third time in four races this season by winning the Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park. The victory was also a historical one for the Chip Ganassi driver.

Palou drove his No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a 16.0035-second victory over Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It was the widest margin of victory in a series race since Scott Dixon won by 22.2256 seconds in August 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“It was a perfect day, a perfect weekend,” Palou said. “The car was amazing, super fast. I had a ton of fun.

“I was a bit lonely there, but I loved it. It was an amazing day.”

It was the 14th victory of Palou’s career, coming on the same circuit where he scored his first win, in 2021 with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Palou’s success over the weekend was seen by over 84,000 fans over the course of the weekend at Barber Motorsports Park with fans from 45 states and 12 countries taking in the events.

Palou led 81 of 90 laps today from the pole and increased his lead in the series standings to 60 points over Lundgaard entering two races this month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 10 on the road course and the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25.