March madness continues this week in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

This weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park represents the fourth series race in the past 29 days this month, which is noteworthy. It’s been 50-plus years since the series was this active in March, and in the past decade, only the month of July has hosted as many events in different locations.

SEE: Barber Event Details

This weekend also offers another opportunity to add to the competitive balance of the 25-car field.

So far, three drivers representing three different teams have won races, and there is every reason to believe the run of new winners to open the season can continue. Still seeking their first wins are two-time Barber winners Will Power of Andretti Global and Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske (photo, top). Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, who has one Barber win, and Christian Lundgaard, who finished second last year, also looking for their first trip to victory lane this season.

Alex Palou

Of course, the aforementioned drivers likely must contend with reigning series champion Alex Palou, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver who won last year’s race on this 17-turn, 2.3-mile permanent road course. Palou, who won the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1, also won the 2021 race at Barber and finished second in the event in 2022. He led 81 of the 90 laps last year in posting a 16.0035-second victory (photo, above).

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, who won the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway on March 7, is another of the active drivers with multiple Barber wins. He won his first such race in 2015 while driving for CFH Racing. The past two wins, in 2017 and 2018, came with Roger Penske’s organization. He always seems to have strong runs at this track.

Power earned his two Barber wins in 2011 and 2012. O’Ward won in 2022, McLaughlin in 2023 and 2024. All three, plus Palou, Lundgaard and Rinus VeeKay, comprised the top six finishers of last year’s race.

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who won the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15, is the series points leader for the first time in his career. His margin over Palou, a four-time series champion, is 26 points. Kirkwood finished 11th last year at Barber.

Further proof of the young season’s competitive balance is the overall point separation. The top eight drivers are separated by less than 50 points. Last year, only three drivers were within that spread after three races as Palou won twice and finished second in the other.

As part of the action-packed weekend, INDYCAR will celebrate track founder George Barber, who welcomed open-wheel racing to his gorgeous facility for the first race in 2010. The Alabama businessman, who was a dedicated partner and fan of the sport, died Feb. 15 at age 85.

The INDYCAR SERIES will stage its first practice at 3:30 p.m. ET Friday (FS2). Saturday’s action includes the weekend’s second practice at 11 a.m. ET (FS1) followed by qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 2:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Sunday’s pre-race practice will be at 10 a.m. ET (FS2).

The 90-lap race is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.