Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon both cracked the top ten in opening practice at Barber Motorsports Park, as the NTT IndyCar Series resumed for Round 3 of the 2025 season.
McLaughlin led the Kiwi charge with the eighth-fastest time in the 80-minute session, setting a best lap of 1:08.0680 — just over three-tenths off the pace.
The two-time reigning Barber winner had a lively run, running through the grass exiting Turn 17 early on before pulling off a spectacular save later with a sideways power slide that showcased his trademark car control. Despite those moments, the Team Penske driver remained firmly in the mix.
Dixon wasn’t far behind, going tenth quickest with a 1:08.0960. The six-time IndyCar champion was typically consistent throughout the session, logging valuable laps as he eyes another podium at a venue where he’s finished in the top three a record nine times.
Marcus Armstrong also showed encouraging signs, placing 16th with a 1:08.2628 — narrowly pipping his more experienced Meyer Shank Racing teammate Felix Rosenqvist in the process.
The second-year Kiwi continues to grow more confident in his full-time campaign, with Barber offering one of the toughest road course tests on the calendar.
At the top of the timesheets, Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson set the early benchmark with a 1:07.7470, edging out championship leader Josef Newgarden by just 0.0025 seconds. The session proved ultra-competitive, with less than a second covering the top 23 drivers.
Barber has been a happy hunting ground for the Kiwi contingent in recent years. Dixon’s incredible consistency has yet to be rewarded with a win here, but his nine podiums remain unmatched. McLaughlin, meanwhile, is chasing a rare hat-trick after victories in both 2023 and 2024. Armstrong also has reason to be confident, having picked up a solid ninth-place finish at the Alabama circuit last year.
Practice 2 takes place tomorrow morning (NZT), followed by qualifying and the 90-lap Grand Prix of Alabama at 5:30 am on Monday NZT.
Practice 1 Top 10 Results:
| Pos | Driver | Time |
| 1 | Marcus Ericsson | 1:07.7470 |
| 2 | Alex Palou | 1:07.7602 |
| 3 | Colton Herta | 1:07.7728 |
| 4 | Will Power | 1:07.7869 |
| 5 | Alexander Rossi | 1:07.8098 |
| 6 | Josef Newgarden | 1:07.8667 |
| 7 | Devlin DeFrancesco | 1:07.9302 |
| 8 | Scott McLaughlin | 1:08.0680 |
| 9 | Nolan Siegel | 1:08.0823 |
| 10 | Scott Dixon | 1:08.0960 |
| 16 | Marcus Armstrong | 1:08.2628 |
Header Image: Team Penske
