Today’s question: Who will win the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst on Sunday, April 28 (1 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR Radio Network)?
Curt Cavin: I was inclined to go with Josef Newgarden before learning of the disqualification from the season-opening race, and there’s nothing to dissuade me. Yes, this weekend figures to deliver a major distraction for Team Penske and its drivers, but I expect Newgarden to come out firing. He is a “focus” guy like few others in the series, and I won’t be surprised if he and the No. 2 crew are squarely on point this weekend. Also, don’t forget how good Newgarden has been at Barber Motorsports Park, winning three times with two different teams. I realize it’s been a bit since he won there – in 2018 as a back-to-back winner – but he’s a two-time series champion and 29-time race winner for a reason.
Eric Smith: I’ll take the two-time and defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver is trending in the right direction for points-paying races. Palou was sixth in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. He then escorted his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda home third in last Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Trends say he’ll cross the finish line first in Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst. He won in 2021 at Barber Motorsports Park for his first career INDYCAR SERIES victory and followed that with a runner-up result on the same 17-turn, 2.3-mile road course in 2022. Last year, he started on the front row but faded to fifth at the finish. Eight of Palou’s nine career points-paying victories have come on natural road courses, and there’s a stretch of five (Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Road America, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course) in the next seven races. He scored a non-points victory in The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge in March, so his form isn’t lost this season on these circuits.
Paul Kelly: Based on the news that detonated Wednesday morning, I’m more convinced than ever a Team Penske driver will win this Sunday at Barber. This penalty not only dents the championship aspirations for Penske drivers Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, but it will sting everyone inside the headquarters at Team Penske. So, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that team will try to prove a point on the rolling road course in Birmingham. The big question is which of the three will triumph. Newgarden has recent form, as he finished fourth last weekend at Long Beach and could have contended for the win if not for late contact from Colton Herta. McLaughlin is the reigning winner of this race, and those victorious setups could translate. But I think Newgarden and McLaughlin could face the most questions – and greater distraction – this weekend about the St. Petersburg infractions than Power, who was determined not to have used Push to Pass illegally in the season opener. So, I think that opens the door for Power to earn his first win since June 2022 in Detroit, the second straight race in which an ageless, 40-something multiple champion takes the checkered in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES event.