Marcus Armstrong to represent American Legion, ‘Be the One’ in Alabama this weekend
Two weeks after an eighth-place showing in the No. 11 American Legion Honda during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong will again feature the Legion’s “Be the One” livery during this weekend’s NTT INDYCAR Series race.
Armstrong will join two other CGR drivers with American Legion branding in the 90-lap, 207-mile Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park in Trussville.
At Long Beach, Armstrong moved into the top 10 on Lap 27 and stayed within that grouping the remainder of the race. Combined with a 11th-place finish in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Armstrong currently sits in first place among INDYCAR rookies in the points standing.
"Barber is a very cool track and quite similar to some European circuits that I have raced at in the past; fast and flowing, cambered corners,” Armstrong said via CGR media. “We tested there last month and it went quite well. I think the conditions will be different, but everything is in order to do a good job this weekend. We're still building momentum; it's still only my third INDYCAR race. There's still a lot to learn but I feel that this is the perfect track to go to next."
Armstrong will join CGR teammates Marcus Ericsson and Alex Palou in Alabama – both of whom will have American Legion branding on their cars. Ericsson won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES opener and currently sits atop the series point standings, while Palou is in third place after two top-five finishes so far.
CGR developmental driver Kyffin Simpson also will represent The American Legion this weekend when he competes in the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Alabama. Simpson made his CGR debut during the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where he drove the No 21 car to a 10th-place finish.
Barber Motorsports Park’s 2.3-mile permanent road course has 17 flowing turns and features 80 feet of elevation change that challenge drivers and engineers. A 45-foot-wide racing ribbon also makes it imperative for patience while setting up overtaking opportunities.
The weekend broadcast schedule (all times ET):
· Friday, April 28 – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1, 3:40-4:55 p.m., Peacock.
· Saturday, April 29 – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2, noon-1 p.m., Peacock; NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifications, 3-4:15 p.m., Peacock.
· Sunday, April 30 – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, noon-12:30 p.m., Peacock; INDY NXT race, 12:55-2 p.m., Peacock; NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, 3-6 p.m., NBC and Peacock.
Two Things to Look for at Barber (via INDYCAR)
1. Another young first-time winner? Romain Grosjean could spoil the fun, but the odds point to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ next first-time winner to join Kyle Kirkwood in the under-25 club. Both David Malukas (21) and Christian Lundgaard (21) already have come close to winning in their young careers, and both are showing indications of a second-year breakthrough along the lines of Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Rinus VeeKay and Scott McLaughlin in recent seasons. Marcus Armstrong (22) has impressed in his first two starts with Chip Ganassi Racing, and Armstrong’s former roommate, Callum Ilott (24), also has knocked on the door of a first podium.
2. Dixon needs a Barber: It can be argued that Scott Dixon is the most successful NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver in Barber Motorsports Park history, yet he doesn’t have a win to show for it. Who wouldn’t take Dixon’s stat line at the 17-turn, 2.38-mile permanent road course? Nine podium finishes in 12 races, six times a race runner-up. That’s impressive by any measure. As for reaching the top step of the podium in Birmingham, Alabama, Josef Newgarden has been the track’s recent master, winning three of the past seven races. Team Penske teammate Will Power (No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet) has won two races. Power is a four-time NTT P1 Award winner at Barber, part of the record 68 poles he has scored in his career.