Foster, Rahal and Schumacher Happy to be Back on a Road Course for Practice 1 of the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
Round 4 of 18 in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES
PRACTICE NOTES / QUOTES – Friday, March 27, 2026

FOSTER , RAHAL, AND SCHUMACHER HAPPY TO BE BACK ON A ROAD COURSE FOR PRACTICE 1 OF THE CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA INDY GRAND PRIX

1)         Scott McLaughlin      1:07.3840 / 122.878 mph      
17)       Louis Foster              1:08.0887 / 121.606 mph      
20)       Graham Rahal           1:08.2607 / 121.300 mph      
23)       Mick Schumacher     1:08.3972 / 121.058 mph      

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I blew my best lap. I think we had a lap that was legitimately four-to-five tenths better so I’m disappointed to not finish it. I think the Fifth Third Bank car has a little speed. We had a couple of little nagging handling issues through the whole session that we just couldn’t get figured out. Everything that we did was hurting the rear and not really helping the front of the car, which was not what I needed so we’ve got some work to do there. On the first run on primary tires, we were in the top eight or nine and I felt decent. I’m not disappointed but obviously we want to be better. I’m frustrated that we didn’t complete the lap that I felt we should have which would have given us a lot better of a representative feel for the car going into tomorrow but tomorrow will be a lot cooler and to be frank, that might be better for my imbalance that I have now. We’ll see.”

• FAST FACTS: Rahal will compete in his 16th race here… His best start here is second place in 2019 to bring the team a 1-2 start and his best finish is second, two times (2015-2016) in his previous 15 races here. In 2025, he started 21st and finished 14th. He played a major factor in the most exciting races of the 2015 and 2016 seasons as he challenged for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama win but earned his best finish here of second place both times… Has six IndyCar Series wins (2008 – St. Pete street course; 2015 – Fontana Super Speedway, Mid-Ohio road course; 2016 – Texas Super Speedway; 2017 Detroit Race 1, Detroit Race 2) and five poles (2009 – St. Pete street course, Kansas oval; 2017 – Detroit Race 1 street; 2023 Indy road course, Portland road course) and his highest series season-ending standing is fourth place in 2015.

LOUIS FOSTER, No. 45 Droplight Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I love being back at Barber Motorsports Park, it’s a fun but very difficult track. We’ve got a bit to work on. We weren’t as quick as we hoped to be, but we have a good direction to go in. And we’re hoping the cooler conditions forecast for tomorrow might play in our favor.”

• FAST FACTS: Foster qualified 12th here in his rookie season last year but a late race, off course excursion limited his result to 26th. He has competed at Barber in two INDY NXT races with a best finish of fifth place. In 2023, he qualified third but retired in 14th place after contact after completing 25 of 35 laps. His top finish of fifth came in 2024 after starting last in the field in 21st due to electrical issues.

MICK SCHUMACHER, No. 47 ENVE Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It’s a beautiful circuit for sure. I really enjoyed the sessions. As a rookie, we get to run all (split) sessions, which was great. I got more time to drive on track which was a positive feeling for us because truly I needed it. I didn’t have the ability to run in the sim either so I needed all the laps that I could get and I’m happy with the results so far. Obviously, we’re not where we want to be but we’re happy with the results of the run plan and the approach to the free practice, in this case. And we’re still on the learning side of things and I hope that by tomorrow we’ll have a better base and we’ll be able to also be higher up in the rank, which is what we want but nonetheless, it’s a treat driving here.”

• FAST FACTS: It will be his first INDYCAR race here and first road course race in the series. His best start is fourth place and best finish is 18th – both at Phoenix 2026.

RLL AT BARBER: In 2019, the team qualified 1-2 for the race here, which was the first time the team locked out the front row of an Indy car race since the September 11, 2005 race at Chicagoland when Danica Patrick won pole and Buddy Rice started second. Sato led 74 of 90 laps en route to victory. The 2026 Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix will mark the 14th INDYCAR SERIES race for the team at Barber Motorsports Park (BMP).

NEXT UP: Practice 2 will be broadcast live on FS1 on Saturday from 11-12:30 PM ET and qualifying will be broadcast live on FS1 from 2:30-4:00 PM ET. Live coverage of the 90-lap Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix will be televised on FOX beginning at 1:00 PM ET Sunday, March 29.