By: Spencer Neff
September 14, 2024
As he looks to clinch his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship in four seasons, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou led Saturday morning’s opening practice for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.
Palou, who leads the standings by 33 over Team Penske’s Will Power, posted a best lap of 199.862 mph (23.9565 seconds) on the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Teammate Scott Dixon, who won the last three races on the concrete oval. was second, .0018 of a second off his teammate. Andretti Global’s Colton Herta made it a 1-2-3 for Honda in third.
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward finished the 90-minute session in fourth, the fastest Chevrolet and Herta’s teammate Kyle Kirkwood was fifth.
Palou’s championship rivals, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin, were sixth and seventh. Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing was best among the rookies in eighth.
Barely 10 minutes into the session, Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel spun and made heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in Turn 4. The rookie driver was able to climb from his car and reported that he ran over bump on the lower groove.
Following a caution of more than 29 minutes, the session was resumed and completed without further interruption.
Three engine penalties announced
On Saturday morning, INDYCAR made the following release for the No. 3 Team Penske (Scott McLaughlin), No. 7 Arrow McLaren (Alexander Rossi) and No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing (Alex Palou) entries.
“INDYCAR officials have announced a nine-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 3 Team Penske, No. 7 Arrow McLaren and No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing for unapproved engine changes following the Sunday, Sept. 1 race at the Milwaukee Mile.
The teams were in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next race, which is the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge Sunday, Sept. 15 at Nashville Superspeedway.”
The No. 6 Arrow McLaren entry (Nolan Siegel) was also given the same penalty later in the morning.
Up Next
Here is the remaining schedule for the weekend at Nashville. Stay with IndyCar1909 for the latest on the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix:
At-track schedule (all times Central):
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, INDYCAR LIVE
1:15 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, Two laps, Peacock)
2:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Single car, Two laps), INDYCAR LIVE
4:15-4:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Upper/Lower Groove Session (Two groups, 15 minutes each), Peacock
5-6 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, Peacock
SUNDAY, SEPT. 15
10:55 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines)
11 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix (65 laps/86.45 miles), Peacock
2 p.m. NBC on air
2:25 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines”
2:30 p.m. Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge (206 laps/273.98 miles), NBC, Universo and Peacock (Live)
Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR
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