NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A trio of Team Penske Chevrolets set the pace in Saturday morning’s practice session for Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT IndyCar Series race.
Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske was the fastest at 1:15.4609 for a speed of 100.184 miles per hour in the No. 3 Chevrolet around the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary street course. He was followed by Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden’s 1:15.7554 (99.795 mph) in the No. 2 Chevrolet. Will Power was third at 1:15.8415 (99.682 mph) in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet.
Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport was fourth at 1:15.8457 (99.676 mph) in the No. 27 NAPA Honda. Kyle Kirkwood of A.J. Foyt Racing was fifth in the No. 14 Chevrolet at 1:15.9972 (99.477 mph).
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“It’s very hot out there, but we train well for this,” McLaughlin said. “The car feels really good right now. It’s humid and that is the hottest thing for us drivers.
“I’m not a cool suit guy. I’ve had too many fail on me in Australia. I’m going to go naturally aspirated and rely on the top air-vent. I feel really comfortable with the car.
“Head down, chin up and I’m focused on qualifying right now.”
In the early moments of practice, Rinus VeeKay brought out the red flag with a head-on impact into turn 10.
“Outside front has locked up,” VeeKay said on the radio before impacting the wall.
Despite the thud, Ed Carpenter Racing only had to replace the nosecone on the No. 21 Chevrolet.
Graham Rahal hit the turn 6 wall early on in the session. Later, Colton Herta went off track in turn 9.
Late in the session, Felix Rosenqvist hit the wall coming out of turn 3 and further back, Devlin DeFrancesco had a hard crash into the wall.
Knockout qualifying culminating with the Firestone “Fast Six” is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Peacock will stream qualifications.