2021 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

The 2021 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (officially known as the 2021 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst) was an IndyCar motor race held on April 18, 2021 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.[1] It served as the season opener of the 2021 IndyCar Series and was the eleventh running of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

2021 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Race details
1st round of the 2021 IndyCar season
DateApril 18, 2021
Official nameHonda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst
LocationBarber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
CoursePermanent racing facility
2.380 mi / 3.830 km
Distance90 laps
214.200 mi / 344.700 km
Pole position
Driver Patricio O'Ward (Arrow McLaren SP)
Time01:05.8479
Fastest lap
Driver Patricio O'Ward (Arrow McLaren SP)
Time01:06.8182 (on lap 65 of 90)
Podium
First Álex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Second Will Power (Team Penske)
Third Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing)

Álex Palou won the race for Chip Ganassi Racing, scoring his first career victory in his second season. Team Penske's Will Power finished second, with 2020 IndyCar champion Scott Dixon rounding out the podium places in third.[2]

Background

The event was initially scheduled to be held on April 11, 2021, after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which was slated to be held on March 7 to become the season opener. However, the St. Petersburg race was rescheduled to April 25, making the Barber race the first round of the 2021 season.[3] The event was then rescheduled from April 11 to be held on the weekend of April 17-18, a week prior to the St. Petersburg race.[4] It marked the return of the event to the calendar, after being canceled in the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Takuma Sato was the previous race winner, having won the race in 2019 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.[5]

Entrants
Further information: 2021 IndyCar Series § Contracted teams and drivers

24 drivers have entered the race, including IndyCar Series debutants Jimmie Johnson (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Romain Grosjean (Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing), with Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) making his second career start after racing the season finale in 2020.[6]

Key Meaning
 R  Rookie
 W  Past winner
No.DriverTeamEngine
2 Josef Newgarden  W Team PenskeChevrolet
3 Scott McLaughlin  R Team PenskeChevrolet
4 Dalton KellettA. J. Foyt EnterprisesChevrolet
5 Patricio O'WardArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
7 Felix RosenqvistArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
8 Marcus EricssonChip Ganassi RacingHonda
9 Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingHonda
10 Álex PalouChip Ganassi RacingHonda
12 Will Power  W Team PenskeChevrolet
14 Sébastien BourdaisA. J. Foyt EnterprisesChevrolet
15 Graham RahalRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
18 Ed JonesDale Coyne Racing with Vasser-SullivanHonda
20 Conor DalyEd Carpenter RacingChevrolet
21 Rinus VeeKayEd Carpenter RacingChevrolet
22 Simon Pagenaud  W Team PenskeChevrolet
26 Colton HertaAndretti AutosportHonda
27 Alexander RossiAndretti AutosportHonda
28 Ryan Hunter-Reay  W Andretti AutosportHonda
29 James HinchcliffeAndretti Steinbrenner AutosportHonda
30 Takuma Sato  W Rahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
48 Jimmie Johnson  R Chip Ganassi RacingHonda
51 Romain Grosjean  R Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware RacingHonda
59 Max ChiltonCarlinChevrolet
60 Jack HarveyMeyer Shank RacingHonda

Practice

Practice 1

Practice 1 took place at 11:00 AM ET on April 17, 2021.[1] A single red flag was called in the session, when Felix Rosenqvist made contact with the barrier while entering pit road. Álex Palou went fastest in the first practice session of the season with a time of 01:06.4721, ahead of Colton Herta and Josef Newgarden in second and third respectively.[7]

Top Practice Speeds
PosNo.DriverTeamEngineLap Time
1 10 Álex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 01:06.4721
2 26 Colton Herta Andretti Autosport Honda 01:06.4897
3 2 Josef Newgarden  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 01:06.4957
Source:[8]

Practice 2

Practice 2 took place at 2:40 PM ET on April 17, 2021.[1] The session saw multiple red flags for incidents involving a stall for Dalton Kellett, contact with the Turn 14 wall for Herta, and Newgarden losing power after correcting a slide. Andretti Autosport driver Alexander Rossi finished first in the second practice session with a time of 01:06.0797, ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing duo Marcus Ericsson and Scott Dixon.[9]

Top Practice Speeds
PosNo.DriverTeamEngineLap Time
1 27 Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda 01:06.0797
2 8 Marcus Ericsson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 01:06.2190
3 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 01:06.3018
Source:[10]

Qualifying

Qualifying took place at 5:50 PM ET on April 17, 2021.[1]

Qualifying classification
Pos No. Driver Team Engine Time Final
grid
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3
Group 1 Group 2
1 5 Pato O'Ward Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet N/A 01:06.0696 01:05.5019 01:05.8479 1
2 27 Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda N/A 01:06.2344 01:05.6953 01:05.9177 2
3 10 Álex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 01:05.9032 N/A 01:05.6328 01:06.0538 3
4 2 Will Power  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 01:05.9191 N/A 01:05.5226 01:06.1186 4
5 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Honda N/A 01:06.3775 01:05.6863 01:06.3976 5
6 8 Marcus Ericsson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 01:06.4992 N/A 01:05.6614 01:06.4102 6
7 51 Romain Grosjean  R  Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda N/A 01:06.0709 01:05.7643 N/A 7
8 2 Josef Newgarden  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 01:06.3881 N/A 01:05.7902 N/A 8
9 26 Colton Herta Andretti Autosport Honda N/A 01:06.4282 01:05.7957 N/A 9
10 20 Conor Daly Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet N/A 01:06.1033 01:05.9118 N/A 10
11 60 Jack Harvey Meyer Shank Racing Honda 01:06.5234 N/A 01:05.9634 N/A 11
12 3 Scott McLaughlin  R  Team Penske Chevrolet 01:06.4552 N/A 01:06.7226 N/A 12
13 18 Ed Jones Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda 01:06.5578 N/A N/A N/A 13
14 21 Rinus VeeKay Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet N/A 01:06.4770 N/A N/A 14
15 22 Simon Pagenaud  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 01:06.6480 N/A N/A N/A 15
16 14 Sébastien Bourdais A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet N/A 01:06.5035 N/A N/A 16
17 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay  W  Andretti Autosport Honda 01:06.8512 N/A N/A N/A 17
18 15 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda N/A 01:06.8489 N/A N/A 18
19 30 Takuma Sato  W  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 01:07.1026 N/A N/A N/A 19
20 59 Max Chilton Carlin Chevrolet N/A 01:07.0021 N/A N/A 20
21 48 Jimmie Johnson  R  Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 01:07.7092 N/A N/A N/A 21
22 7 Felix Rosenqvist Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet N/A 01:07.0254 N/A N/A 22
23 4 Dalton Kellett A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 01:07.8100 N/A N/A N/A 22
24 29 James Hinchcliffe Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport Honda N/A No Time N/A N/A 24
Source:[11]
Notes
  • Bold text indicates fastest time set in session.

Warmup

Warmup took place at 11:30 AM ET on April 18, 2021.[1]

Top Warmup Speeds
Pos No. Driver Team Engine Lap Time
1 15 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 01:06.7319
2 51 Romain Grosjean  R  Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda 01:06.8616
3 14 Sébastien Bourdais A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 01:06.8642
Source:[12]


Race

The race started at 3:00 PM ET on April 18, 2021.[1]

Race classification
Pos No. Driver Team Engine Laps Time/Retired Pit
Stops		 Grid Laps
Led		 Pts.
1 10 Álex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 90 1:52:53.0361 2 3 56 53
2 12 Will Power  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 90 +0.4016 2 4 4 41
3 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 90 +2.9881 2 5 35
4 5 Pato O'Ward Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet 90 +3.9741 3 1 25 34
5 14 Sébastien Bourdais A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 90 +10.6967 3 16 4 31
6 21 Rinus VeeKay Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 90 +13.8750 4 14 1 29
7 15 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 90 +18.7387 3 18 26
8 8 Marcus Ericsson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 90 +20.0700 2 6 24
9 27 Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda 90 +20.5601 3 2 22
10 51 Romain Grosjean  R  Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda 90 +45.0805 2 7 20
11 60 Jack Harvey Meyer Shank Racing Honda 90 +50.0788 3 11 19
12 22 Simon Pagenaud  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 90 +59.0522 3 15 18
13 30 Takuma Sato  W  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 90 +1:05.5887 3 19 17
14 3 Scott McLaughlin  R  Team Penske Chevrolet 90 +1:06.0562 3 12 16
15 18 Ed Jones Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda 90 +1:08.4093 3 13 15
16 20 Conor Daly Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 90 +1:09.1076 3 10 14
17 29 James Hinchcliffe Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport Honda 89 +1 Lap 3 24 13
18 4 Dalton Kellett A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 89 +1 Lap 4 23 12
19 48 Jimmie Johnson  R  Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 87 +3 Laps 3 21 11
20 59 Max Chilton Carlin Chevrolet 86 +4 Laps 4 20 10
21 7 Felix Rosenqvist Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet 62 Contact 3 22 9
22 26 Colton Herta Andretti Autosport Honda 25 Contact 2 9 8
23 2 Josef Newgarden  W  Team Penske Chevrolet 0 Contact 0 8 7
24 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay  W  Andretti Autosport Honda 0 Contact 0 17 6
Fastest lap: Pato O'Ward (Arrow McLaren SP) – 01:06.8182 (lap 65)
Source:[13]

Championship standings after the race
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included.

References
  1. "Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama". IndyCar.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  2. "Palou Holds Off Heavyweights for First Win in Barber Thriller". IndyCar.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  3. "IndyCar season opener will be Barber after St. Pete moved - NBC Sports". MotorSportsTalk | NBC Sports. January 6, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  4. "INDYCAR Announces Update for 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Opener". IndyCar.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  5. "Barber IndyCar: Sato scores dominant win, beats Dixon, Bourdais". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  6. "NTT INDYCAR SERIES: BARBER SPOTTER GUIDE". view.ceros.com.
  7. "Palou leads opening Barber IndyCar practice". April 17, 2021.
  8. "Practice - Results" (PDF). racer.com. April 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  9. "Rossi tops second Barber IndyCar practice". RACER. April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  10. "Practice - Results" (PDF). racer.com. April 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  11. "Qualifications - Results (Road Course Elimination)" (PDF). indycar.com. April 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  12. "Practice - Results" (PDF). indycar.com. April 18, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  13. "Race - Results (11inch) - Final" (PDF). indycar.com. April 18, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  14. "Points Calculator - Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama - Race" (PDF). NBC Sports. April 18, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.