PREVIEW: NTT INDYCAR SERIES | RD. 1
HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA
The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES is finally about to shift into gear following a lengthy winter break, with Felix Rosenqvist and his rivals sprinting out of the blocks into an intense start to the season with four races in three consecutive weekends.
The opening race of the year takes place this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, with the grid then moving on immediately to the Streets of St. Petersburg (April 25) and a double-header round at Texas Motor Speedway on May 1-2.
Entering his third season in INDYCAR, Felix Rosenqvist embarks on a new chapter this year at new team Arrow McLaren SP, having joined the Chevrolet-powered squad over the winter to team up with Mexico’s Pato O’Ward.
“It’s an exciting time heading into my first season at Arrow McLaren SP and with four consecutive races to start off the campaign,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “Winter testing has been alright, but we get very little running nowadays and it’s hard to draw any proper conclusions, really.
“I’m keen to get going and to get into all the new race weekend routines. I’m sure there will be a bit of a learning curve to begin with, but I’m feeling very much at home and I think everyone is excited to see how we do this weekend and the following ones.”
This weekend’s season-opener at Barber Motorsports Park features a compact two-day schedule, with practice and qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
The fast nature of the Alabama venue combines with a 90-lap race distance to make this event one of the physically most demanding on the entire INDYCAR calendar.
TIME TABLE
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 1
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Barber Motorsports Park (USA)
All times local (U.S. Central)
Saturday 17 April
Free Practice 1: 10:00-10:45 am
Free Practice 2: 1:40-2:25 pm
Qualifying: 4:55-6:00 pm
Sunday 18 April
Warm-up: 10:30-11:00 am
Race (90 laps): 2:40 pm
TIMING: INDYCAR App / racecontrol.indycar.com
ENTRY LIST: view here
TRACK DATA: view here
