Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix came down to a one-v-one face off between Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and Andretti Autosport’s Romain Grosjean.
After making contact twice, McLaughlin found a way to get by Grosjean, streaking to the win in his No. 3 Chevrolet.
“I call it a happy driver strategy,” McLaughlin said on the NBC broadcast. “I was a lot happier doing that, but so thankful – first weekend for Good Ranchers on the car. So happy they could be here this weekend.”
McLaughlin drove on the three-stop strategy in the race, contrary to the two-stop approach that has won more in recent years at Barber.
However, it allowed McLaughlin to push his car a lot more than Grosjean.
Will Power rounded out the podium of the race and told NBC of his increased confidence.
“We’re on a championship run again,” Power said. “Just got to keep chipping away. We’ll get a win here soon.”
The series returns to the track for the month of May as teams will embark to Indianapolis to start getting ready for the Indianapolis 500.
NTT IndyCar Series results
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
Barber Motorsports Park
Sun. April 30, 2023
1. Scott McLaughlin
2. Romain Grosjean
3. Will Power
4. Pato O’Ward
5. Alex Palou
6. Christian Lundgaard
7. Scott Dixon
8. Alexander Rossi
9. Felix Rosenqvist
10. Marcus Ericsson
11. Marcus Armstrong
12. Kyle Kirkwood
13. Callum Ilott
14. Colton Herta
15. Josef Newgarden
16. Rinus VeeKay
17. Graham Rahal
18. Simon Pagenaud
19. David Malukas
20. Santino Ferrucci
21. Helio Castroneves
22. Benjamin Pedersen
23. Devlin DeFrancesco
24. Jack Harvey
25. Conor Daly
26. Agustin Canapino
27. Sting Ray Robb
IndyCar Points Standings
After 4 of 17 races
1. Marcus Ericsson 130
2. Pato O’Ward -3
3. Alex Palou -9
4. Scott McLaughlin -11
5. Romain Grosjean -15
6. Josef Newgarden -25
7. Will Power -26
8. Scott Dixon -32
9. Kyle Kirkwood -38
10. Colton Herta -45
11. Callum Ilott -50
12. Christian Lundgaard -53
13. David Malukas -56
14. Alexander Rossi -58
15. Felix Rosenqvist -64
16. Graham Rahal -65
17. Marcus Armstrong -68
18. Agustin Canapino -83
19. Rinus VeeKay -83
20. Helio Castroneves -85
21. Simon Pagenaud -85
22. Santino Ferrucci -86
23. Jack Harvey -87
24. Conor Daly -92
25. Sting Ray Robb -93
26. Benjamin Pedersen -96
27. Devlin DeFrancesco -97
