Scott McLaughlin has driven to a superb win in the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsport Park following a strategy masterclass from Team Penske.
Electing for a three-stop race, McLaughlin was able to use fresh rubber late in the race to pull clear with top two-stopper Romain Grosjean. Will Power, also a three-stopper, clawed back a 12-second gap to the lead pair, pressuring Grosjean late in the race but running out of laps to get a move done and settling for third.
Pato O’Ward drove to fourth, some 20 seconds off the podium and one spot ahead of Alex Palou. Christian Lundgaard was sixth home, while Scott Dixon finished seventh.
Marcus Armstrong was one of the drivers of the race, charging from a disappointing 26th on the grid to finish eleventh on the two-stop strategy.
For McLaughlin and Grosjean, the battle for the lead was a chance at redemption following their contact at the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. As was the case there, McLaughlin came out from his final stop ahead of the Frenchman on colder rubber, with Grosjean this time able to successfully complete the move for the lead.
Giving the former Formula 1 driver space worked for McLaughlin, who quickly made up time before taking the lead on Lap 72 of 90 when Grosjean ran wide at Turn 5.
Power, who started eleventh on the grid, was eating into the 12-second gap the leaders had built in the dying stages, catching Grosjean but unable to make the pass before the chequered flag.
The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix was a tame affair compared to the previous three races, with just one Safety Car required when Sting Ray Robb came to a halt in the early mid-stages—the period of caution benefitting McLaughlin, who opted for a cheap stop.
That was also where Armstrong made significant gains, the rookie continuing to charge forward quietly to threaten the top 10 late on.
It was also a quiet race for Dixon, the Kiwi great only losing two places from his starting grid of fifth, ultimately bested by a superb three-stop strategy from Penske.
McLaughlin’s victory sees him shoot up the championship standings to fourth, within touching distance of top spot in an extremely tight table.
A big month of May now awaits the IndyCar field, which first hit the Indianapolis Road Course in two weeks before the 107th running of the Indy 500 on May 28.
Header Image: Team Penske
