By David Morgan, Associate Editor
LEBANON, Tenn. – The NTT IndyCar Series is off and running in Nashville after the first practice session of the weekend for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix was completed on Saturday morning.
When all was said and done, Pato O’Ward and his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was at the top of the board with a lap of 23.661 seconds, 202.357 mph, as he looks to close out the 2025 campaign on a high note.
“That last run, it took a couple of ‘em to get it peppered in, but that feels good. I’m happy to go with that into qualifying,” said O’Ward.
“Obviously, we didn’t get a run in on the softs, which we’ll be qualifying on, but I think it’s just extra grip. At least that’s what it seems like. I think we’re in good shape.”
Kyle Kirkwood was second fastest, followed by O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren teammate Christian Lundgaard in third. Defending Nashville winner Colton Herta ended the session in fourth, with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon rounding out the top-five.
David Malukas held steady at the top of the timing sheet for much of practice before getting bumped down to sixth by the end. The remainder of the top-10 went to the third Arrow McLaren entry of Nolan Siegel in seventh, along with Josef Newgarden, Santino Ferrucci, and Alexander Rossi.
Just as it was a year ago, the bump in Turn 3 and 4 on the 1.33-mile concrete oval was a concern during practice with a number of drivers flirting with disaster after their cars bottomed out over the undulation, sending them up the track.
Among those running into trouble there included Conor Daly and Devlin DeFrancesco, with the latter hitting the bump and sideswiping the wall off Turn 4 to bring out the caution with just under 20 minutes to go.
DeFrancesco was able to get his No. 30 Honda back to pit road to the attention of his crew, but would be sidelined for the remainder of the session.
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“We were doing qualifying simulation and everything seemed to be OK on the warm-up lap and we got loose over the bump,” said DeFrancesco.
“The boys will get it back. We’ll only have to change a tow link, check cross weight. Luckily, it was a good save. No major damage. We’ll be out for qualifying later today.”
Another caution flew in the waning minutes of practice when newly crowned and four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou had an uncharacteristic spin on pit exit. It would be no harm, no foul for Palou in the spin, who wound up 16th overall.
Next up for the IndyCar Series on the Nashville Superspeedway oval will be qualifying to set the field for Sunday’s season finale at 2:00 pm ET, followed by final practice at 4:30 pm ET.
Sunday’s 225-lap race is scheduled for 2:00 pm ET on FOX.
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