Alex Palou took to Victory Lane at the 2026 IndyCar Barber GP for the second year in a row. Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal were neck-and-neck for second, but it was the Spaniard who converted his pole into a win this weekend.
During the IndyCar Barber GP, the 28-year-old lost some time by battling with former F1 driver Mick Schumacher to stay on the lead lap as they exited pit road following their final stops. The four-time champion was on the inside and briefly dipped his left hand side wheels on the grass on pit exit. He did get by, however. Nonetheless, that looked like it opened the door for Denmark’s Christian Lundgaard.
The Arrow McLaren then was the fastest driver on the track, as Palou engaed in a fierce battle with rookie Dennis Hauger who also tried to stay on the lead lap like the German. Car #7 looked destined to take the lead, or be very, very close to it.
However, a painfully slow pit stop at Arrow McLaren allowed Palou to keep a big lead at the 2026 Barber GP.
Wheel-to-wheel in the pit lane
Speaking post-race, Alex Palou explained there was a lot of traffic in the pit lane as three other cars boxed on the same lap, all of them almost a lap down.
“Yeah, it was tough. I think the same lap I pitted, there was like three other cars that pitted, so we were side by side with Mick. I knew it was key to get by them because we were virtually fighting against the [No. 7] and the [No. 15], but especially the [No. 7].
“Yeah, I had to go for it [against Schumacher]. I kind of, like, I don’t know, if we actually got contact. Maybe.”
Getting into the grass at the IndyCar Barber GP
“I got into the grass because I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know if two cars fit here’. I didn’t know how aggressive he was going to be.
He continued, stating that more of the grid caused him trouble at the IndyCar Barber GP. Hauger battled with Palou hard for over half a lap, costing him critical time. He eventually got through on the run to turn 12.
“Yeah, I’m glad that that worked out. Then I fought a little bit with Hauger, which took me a lap and a half to get past.
“Yeah, those moments you can lose the race in like nothing. You can lose five, six seconds with two laps because you’re fighting with cold tires and lap cars. I’m glad we were able to get by them.”
Tyre strategy at the 2026 Barber GP
On any given weekend, Alex Palou loves using primaries. This IndyCar Barber GP, CGR and almost everyone thought they would be running a red race.
However, a short first stint from David Malukas changed the game. Even before the race, though, Palou and his team were aware of the tyre dilemma. Ultimately they chose used blacks over used reds.
“After warm-up. We were in the stand and we’re like, Well, it’s a primary race, which we normally love the primaries. It’s a compound that I tend to like to run a lot. Then we’re like, ‘Man, at some point we need to either use a used red’, which we don’t like, we know they’re not going to last, at least in my car with my driving, or a used primary from practice two.”
Battling Lundgaard
When asked if he expected a battle with Lundgaard at the 2026 Barber GP before the Dane’s botched stop, Palou was tight-lipped, saying, “Yeah.”
Even had the Danish star come out ahead, tyre warm-up may have given the defending champion a shot at reclaiming it.
“Those kind of stuff I don’t know because maybe a second on the out lap, it’s very easy to lose a second on the out lap, or two, right?
Palou reasoned that ordinarily he would’ve stayed up front, but points to the lap cars slowing him down. He was encouraged knowing the Arrow McLaren driver had yet to pit. This got Palou into gear, thinking he could still be at the front of the IndyCar Barber GP.
“I felt on a normal scenario I would have been able to stay up front. With the lap cars, it was going to be tough. The only thing that it made me feel better was when they told me he was still out. Then I started running really fast. I was like, Oh, maybe we’re still in front or we’re going to be…
“If he was going to be only not more than a second in front of us, we would have been able to overtake him on the first two corners just because of his tire temperature.
“Yeah, I mean, you never know. As a driver, you don’t really know what’s going on. You’re just pushing as much as possible. I knew that it was going to be a tough fight. I just tried to go as fast as I could.”
Winning streak at the IndyCar Barber GP
This is Palou’s second consecutive trip down Victory Lane at Barber Motorsports Park. When asked if this race win means more after overcoming battles, he responded with sarcasm.
“No, I prefer when it’s just so easy, and you don’t have any issues, you can stay up front, and everything runs perfectly.
More seriously, the CGR driver explained that there were a few moments of big danger during the 2026 Barber GP. He recognised that every race is different, no matter the course or timing.
“It feels good now. I was suffering a lot. There was couple moments where we were in big danger. It always changes. Like every race, it’s so different to another. I feel like if we would start another race now, it would be completely different because everybody learns and does different stuff.
Palou reflected on last year’s race, stating that this year was not as tough in terms of traffic. He did acknowledge that in certain crucial moments with Lundgaard, they were still in danger. The #7 ran five laps longer in stint two, before going four laps further in stint three.
“I feel last year was a completely different one. This year, we didn’t really struggle with traffic as much. At the same time, only those key moments, we struggled with traffic a lot and put us in danger with the 7.
“Yeah, every race is different. There’s no easier than other. But yeah, this one was tough.”
