Pit Lane Struggles Mark the Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix
The Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park was notably defined by the challenges faced by IndyCar teams during pit stops. A significant number of drivers encountered severe delays that hindered their performances on track.
Among the 27 competitors, Scott Dixon’s No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing pit crew excelled, recording the fastest average pit stop time of 29.0689 seconds, with a best of 28.0144 seconds. Scott McLaughlin from Team Penske closely trailed with an average of 29.0702 seconds. In stark contrast, Dale Coyne Racing’s Jacob Abel suffered from the slowest pit stop at 43.7868 seconds, attributed to a lost wheel nut that ultimately led to his last-place finish in the race.
PREMA Racing faced similar issues, with Robert Shwartzman averaging 33.3 seconds for his stops, including a 34.4-second pit visit. Teammate Callum Ilott fared worse, clocking an average of 34.8 seconds, with his final stop lasting 37.8 seconds.
Kyle Kirkwood, fresh off his Long Beach victory, also struggled, posting a 36.6-second pit stop due to a tire change mishap. Colton Herta managed to creatively leverage his car’s energy recovery system to minimize his delay to 33.9 seconds after stalling during a stop.
Marcus Armstrong and Kyffin Simpson experienced their own challenges; Armstrong recorded a 33.5-second stop, while Simpson’s slowest visit extended to 34.9 seconds, contributing to his 21st-place finish.
Rinus VeeKay, finishing fourth, encountered multiple pit stops in the 30-second range, including a disappointing 32.7 seconds for his final stop. He noted the critical missed opportunity to improve his position at the finish.
The series’ technical difficulty during pit stops demonstrated the fine margins that can dictate race outcomes, emphasizing the pivotal role that teams play in leveraging efficiency during critical moments of each race.
