Will Power of Team Penske struck the tire barrier in Turn 1 during qualifying on Saturday for the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama.[1][2]

Power, who recorded the fifth-fastest time on his first lap in Group 1 qualifying, locked the rear brakes entering the corner, ran through the gravel trap and impacted the barrier nose-first.[1] He was evaluated and released from the infield care center without injury.[2]

"The brake just went to the floor," Power said. "I think the fronts were working so it was a brake failure on the rear. That’s all I know."[1]

Power will start 23rd in the 27-car field for Sunday's 90-lap race on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course.[1]

Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, who suffered a heavy impact into the Turn 17 barrier at about 150 mph during Friday's opening practice, rebounded to qualify 14th.[1][2]

Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard secured the pole position with a lap of 1:06.2403, his first in the NTT IndyCar Series.[1] The top five qualifiers were Lundgaard, Marcus Ericsson (Andretti Global), Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing), Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) and Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global).[1]

The race, round five of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season, is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday and will be broadcast on USA Network.[1]

Sources

1. NTT IndyCar Series (indycar.com), "Lundgaard earns first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole position," May 4, 2024, https://www.indycar.com/news/2024/05/05-04-indycar-series-qualifying-report
2. Racer.com, "Lundgaard on Barber pole after Power’s late Q1 crash," May 4, 2024, https://racer.com/2024/05/04/lundgaard-on-barber-pole-after-powers-late-q1-crash/