IndyCar News: Friday Morning Report from Barber Motorsports Park
Good morning from Barber Motorsports Park!
The NTT INDYCAR Series will be on track this afternoon for Practice 1 at 2:35 p.m. CT. The weather is expected to be warm, with highs in the 80s.
This is the 16th time the IndyCars will run on this beautiful, flowing road course. Drivers are excited to return to a familiar track after the new race in Arlington two weekends ago.
The INDY NXT by Firestone series is also here this weekend. They will run two races with a single qualifying session for both. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Race 1 starts at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, and Race 2 is set for Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
ECR Names Hunter McElrea as Reserve Driver
McElrea Testing for ECR Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment/Chris Owens
ECR announced today the addition of Hunter McElrea as the team’s first official reserve driver. McElrea will travel with ECR to race events and, if the need arises, step into one of the team’s two full-time entries. He will also support the team’s on-track testing program, as well as complete simulation work on Chevrolet’s Driver-in-the-Loop (DiL) simulator.
“I am really excited to join ECR as a reserve driver. The team has great momentum, and I’m looking forward to being part of it,” stated McElrea. “The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has always been my goal, so I’m thankful for the opportunity and ready to support ECR however I can!”
McElrea has driven an ECR Chevrolet twice during tests in November 2024 and February 2026. Those performances, as well as his success in the ladder series, made him a natural choice for the team’s reserve driver.
ECR co-owner and CEO Ed Carpenter stated, “Securing a reserve driver has been something that we have discussed over the last year. With the competitiveness of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES now, you really need to be prepared for any scenario. Hunter has completed two tests for us over the last several years and has impressed the whole team. We are excited to have him with ECR and ready in the event we need a fill-in.”
“Having a reserve driver in place is an important step in maintaining the level of performance required in this series,” said Tim Broyles, ECR Team President. “Hunter has done a great job when we have had him in the car for testing. He has a really strong feel for the car and is able to provide detailed feedback that helps move the entire team forward. While you never want to be in a position where you need to call on a reserve driver, we’re confident Hunter would step in and rise to the occasion.”
Lucille Dust reporting live from Barber Motorsports Park