Alex Palou is back on top again at Barber Motorsports Park after pre-qualifying practice Saturday morning for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst, but all eyes were on Scott McLaughlin after his frightening crash ended the session early.

Four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou, who dominated this race en route to victory last season, led with a lap of 1 minute, 6.4680 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. The session ended with just under four minutes remaining when McLaughlin backed into the catch fence in Turn 1 after a high-speed spin in the No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet. The car suffered significant damage, but two-time Barber winner McLaughlin was unhurt.

SEE: Practice Results

“I just want to go out and go for pole,” McLaughlin said after the crash.

Team Penske officials announced after practice that McLaughlin is switching to a backup car for NTT P1 Award qualifying, up next at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. The 90-lap race starts at 1 p.m. Sunday (FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

Series leader Kyle Kirkwood was second in the session at 1:06.5217 in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda of Andretti Global. Rinus VeeKay continued his strong weekend by ending up third at 1:06.5950 in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.

Romain Grosjean rose from 11th in practice Friday to fourth in this session on the 17-turn, 2.3-mile road course with a best lap of 1:06.6092 in the No. 18 BMax Honda of Dale Coyne Racing. Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top five at 1:06.6163 in the No. 66 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian.

But all the focus at the end of the session was on McLaughlin, who was quickest Friday in practice at 1:07.3840. He approached the daunting, left-handed Turn 1 at approximately 165 mph when his right rear tire hit the grass and dirt adjacent to the racetrack.

That sent his machine into a high-speed half-spin through the entrance of Turn 1 and through the gravel trap. The car hopped in the gravel, rear-first, jumped the tire barrier and pushed back the catch fence before becoming ensnared in it. McLaughlin climbed from the car with assistance from the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team.

“I knew I was done,” McLaughlin said. “I dropped the right rear and spun, so I just tried to brace myself a bit. I think the crash looked a lot worse than it felt. I’m gutted for my Odyssey Battery guys.

“The car felt good. A little bit loose this morning. Cold temps were making it a bit different. But I feel good and love this place. I just want to get back out there and have a chance.”

McLaughlin ended up 12th in the running order when practice ended, with a best lap of 1:06.8700.