By: Spencer Neff
August 5, 2023

Practice 2 Results Combined Practice Results Qualifying Order

After finishing 25th in Friday afternoon’s opening practice, 2021 race winner Marcus Ericsson would top the second practice for Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who won the season opener at St. Petersburg on March 5.

In a session that was trimmed from 45 minutes (in a one-hour timeframe) to 30 minutes, the 2021 Nashville street course winner notched a best lap of 1m31.7999 (82.353 mph) on the 2.1-mile, 11-turn temporary circuit.

Behind the Honda-powered entry, Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing was second in the practice order, .8911 of a second behind Ericsson. After leading the opening practice, Team Penske’s Will Power slotted in third, with teammate and last year’s pole winner Scott McLaughlin in fourth.

Marcus Armstrong was fifth, bookending the Top Five for CGR as the fastest rookie in the field. Points leader and teammate Alex Palou finished ninth.

In addition to the practice being delayed by neatly an hour, two drivers the 27-car field would not set a time during the session. Those drivers were Alexander Rossi of Arrow McLaren and Romain Grosjean of Andretti Autosport.

Up Next

Here is the remaining schedule for this weekend’s on-track sessions. Keep up with the latest on the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix from IndyCar1909.

At-track schedule (all times local):

Saturday, Aug. 5

1:45 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout qualifications), Peacock

5:25-5:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock

Sunday, Aug. 6

11 a.m. – NBC on air

11:23 a.m. – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

11:30 a.m. – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (80 laps/168 miles), NBC (live)

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR