IndyCar Barber starting lineup: Rinus VeeKay on the pole position for second time in career

Rinus VeeKay will lead the NTT IndyCar Series starting lineup to the green flag Sunday in the Honda Indy Gand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.

After his second career pole position, the Ed Carpenter Racing driver is seeking his second career victory.

“Confidence is high and this is a track where passing is not happening too much,” VeeKay, 21 said after turning a lap of 1 minute, 6.2507 seconds. “From here, we can have a great race and fight for a win, definitely.”

TIRE DESIGNATIONS: The starting lineup with compound choices

Pato O’Ward qualified second, locking out the front row for Chevrolet. The manufacturer has won the first three races of the season with Team Penske drivers Scott McLaughlin (who qualified fourth) and Josef Newgarden, who just missed the Fast Six final round.

RETWEET to congratulate @rinusveekay on winning his second career pole award in @INDYCAR!

He'll lead the field to green Sunday at 1P ET on @NBC and @PeacockTV. pic.twitter.com/NtWgduWxQT

— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) April 30, 2022

Newgarden has a series-high three victories at Barber and will earn a $1 million bonus if he can notch his fourth victory at the track Sunday.

Rain is in the forecast for Sunday’s race, which could be the first in inclement weather since IndyCar added the aeroscreen cockpit safety device two years ago.

“I think everybody’s rain tires on the truck are probably like two years old, which aren’t ideal,” O’Ward said. “Hopefully, it rains now so we can get some fresher ones for the race. I think it would do us well if we all had a chance to see what it was like in warmup. Not in terms of, like, by yourself, but I think it changes a lot whenever there’s 26 cars going around.

HOW TO WATCH BARBER: All the details