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Kyle Kirkwood Tops Crash-Shortened Nashville Practice Session
Highlights
- Kyle Kirkwood posted fastest lap at 197.097 mph in practice.
- Practice ended early due to David Malukas’ heavy crash.
- Alex Palou finished second, close behind Kirkwood’s best time.
- Malukas taken to hospital after crash, condition under evaluation.
- Qualifying for NTT P1 Award set for 3 p.m. ET today.
- Race and qualifying live on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio.
Kyle Kirkwood sets the benchmark in opening practice for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway, ending early after David Malukas crashes 19 minutes into the hour.
Kirkwood’s 197.097 mph in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda for Andretti Global stands as fastest. All 25 drivers wrestle with grip on the bumpy, slick 1.33-mile concrete oval.
Kirkwood calls the Nashville oval green, with a loose rear limiting stability. Teams chase balance and tire temperature, prioritizing predictable rotation for long runs early in the weekend.
Points leader Alex Palou sits close, logging 196.966 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. The margin is minimal, reinforcing Andretti versus Ganassi as the early storyline.
Kirkwood tops Nashville practice at 197.097 mph despite an early stoppage.
Malukas holds third at 196.340 mph before spinning at Turn 2 and striking the SAFER barrier with the rear of his No. 12 Penske Chevrolet.
He exits with assistance, and is transported to a local hospital for evaluation after a prompt medical response.
INDYCAR deputy medical director Dr. Angie Fiege confirms a private vehicle transfer for testing. Penske faces heavy rear-end repairs, compressing setup work ahead of qualifying.
Dr. Angie Fiege confirms Malukas is transported for hospital testing after significant rear damage.
Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist is fourth at 196.249 mph. Santino Ferrucci is fifth at 195.977 mph in AJ Foyt Racing’s No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet.
Team Penske’s depth shows, with three cars among the top seven. Josef Newgarden is sixth at 195.940 mph in No. 2 Astemo Chevrolet, with Scott McLaughlin seventh at 195.907 mph.
Attention now turns to qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 3 p.m. ET, which will set the grid for Sunday’s 300-lap race.
Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award starts at 3 p.m. ET, setting Sunday’s 300-lap grid.
Coverage airs live on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.
Evolving grip will reward teams timing their runs as rubber builds. Expect traffic management and out-lap prep to prove decisive on the short oval.
Recent practice incidents underline that risk.
For added context on Kirkwood’s practice setbacks at Nashville, see our detailed report.
Visual Summary
🚗
Kyle Kirkwood
Fastest Lap:
197.097 mph
197.097 mph
Crash!
💥
Malukas Crash
Turn 2 impact, car heavily damaged.
Session stopped.
Session stopped.
Top 5: The Early Pace Setters 🏁
🥇
Kirkwood
197.097
🥈
Palou
196.966
🥉
Malukas
196.340
4
Rosenqvist
196.249
5
Ferrucci
195.977
Kirkwood leads the field, Malukas crashes from P3, session ends early.
🎧 The Music City Grand Prix weekend is underway!
A bumpy, slick oval delivered both dazzling speed and a heavy crash that halted practice, forcing every team to quickly adapt.
Malukas exited safely and is under observation.
Kirkwood drew first blood with a 197 mph flyer. All eyes now turn to qualifying at 3 p.m. ET — with the starting grid (and a potential for more drama) on the line.
Malukas exited safely and is under observation.
Kirkwood drew first blood with a 197 mph flyer. All eyes now turn to qualifying at 3 p.m. ET — with the starting grid (and a potential for more drama) on the line.
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
