Scott McLaughlin fought tooth and nail with Romain Grosjean to win his first race of the NTT IndyCar Series in 2023, despite the Frenchman pulling off a stunning pass on the Kiwi earlier in the race.

In the end, however, Scott McLaughlin fought back to put his car into Victory Lane, as Grosjean had to settle for his second consecutive runners-up medal of the season.

“That was the most complete Indycar race I have ever driven” said a jubilant McLaughlin after the race.

Reigning champion Will Power finished third for Team Penske, his best finish of the season so far, as Pato O’Ward put his Long Beach demons behind him to finish fourth, and Alex Palou was fifth for Chip Ganassi Racing. Christian Lundgaard was an impressive sixth for a resurgent RLL, with Scott Dixon seventh and Alexander Rossi eighth. Felix Rosenqvist recovered to ninth after a spin on lap 1 and championship leader Marcus Ericsson finished in tenth.

Early favourite and Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden finished fifteenth after looking in contention for the win throughout much of the race, as a bent suspension arm following contact with Rosenqvist on lap 1 hindered his progress. The biggest mover of the race was Chip Ganassi’s Marcus Armstrong, who took his #11 American Legion Honda from 26th to 11th.

The result means that the series has now had four different winners in the first four races, and that the top five in the championship are separated by just fifteen points as the series heads into its flagship ‘Month of May’.

Grosjean misses out as three stop strategy prevails

Following his second pole position of the season, all eyes were on Grosjean and whether the Genevan born racer could hold on for ninety laps and finally become a winner in the NTT IndyCar Series.

In the pre-race information provided by NTT Data, the two stop strategy looked to be the preferred method of securing the race win, as the predictions gave this strategy a 91% chance of winning the race.

However, Team Penske had other ideas, as Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power all came for their opening stops within the first twenty laps, committing them to the unfancied three stop strategy. They all subsequently sliced their way through the field, making many overtakes as two-stoppers began to struggle on their worn alternate tyres. Colton Herta and Reenus Veekay were the biggest losers, falling from the inside top 10 to well outside the top 15.

Sting Ray Robb lost power at turn 9 and pulled to a stop, as his stricken car brought out a caution period on lap 36. This was just in time for the three-stoppers to make their second stop of the race, losing them very little time and helping their strategy. This then set up an amazing climax to the race as the winners of the strategic war would be revealed in the last 30 laps.

Mclaughlin shows class with perfect race management

Grosjean stopped for the final time with 29 laps to go, and Mclaughlin’s three stop strategy allowed him to execute a shorter final stint, meaning he did not have to save fuel or his tyres. As this exact leading pair had collided at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in very similar circumstances, the gloves would be off between the pair of them.

As McLaughlin exited the pit-lane on lap 66, Grosjean used a huge amount of Push to Pass in order to catch McLaughlin, and overtook him in a stunning move around the outside of the penultimate corner, which turned into the preferable inside line for the final bend.

The move wowed commentators and the crowd alike, but it was not to be for the Frenchman. A small error into turn five on lap 72 meant McLaughlin could sneak back up the inside using his remaining Push to Pass, and as Andretti Autosport’s Grosjean had none in reserve, the New Zealander driving for Team Penske was able to keep the lead.

Grosjean spent the rest of his race in McLaughlin’s wheel tracks, fending off a fast charging Will Power in third.

The Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix serves up a treat

The racing in the NTT IndyCar Series this week has been nothing short of remarkable. Barber Motorsports Park signed a new deal to host the series until at least 2027, and the race certainly justified the signing of that contract.

The event bubbled away nicely throughout the opening half of the race, and then as the race’s climax was set up, Grosjean and McLaughlin put on a stunning show. After the 2022 event’s strategic intrigue was killed after a caution period pre-race, this event at Barber served up a treat, and made sure the series carries strong momentum into its iconic ‘Month of May’.

119 points are on offer throughout May this year, as the series heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for GMR Grand Prix in two weeks time with the top five drivers separated by just fifteen points in the championship. Attention will then of course turn to the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500, as defending champion Marcus Ericsson looks to become the first defending winner of the race since 2002.