By: Spencer Neff

July 18, 2026

Final Practice Results Combined Practice Results

Prior to the start of the “High-line” sessions, Team Penske’s David Maluaks was cleared by INDYCAR Medical following a crash earlier today during practice. Malukas had spent much of the day in a nearby hospital under observation following the crash at the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Less than two hours later, Malukas would lead the 25-car field in Saturday evening’s final practice. After not making a qualifying attempt on top of a nine-place grid penalty assessed before practice due to an engine change, Malukas would post a best lap of 193.766 mph (24.1529 seconds) in the last session before tomorrow’s 300-lap Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix.

Malukas’ teammate Scott McLaughlin finished the session .0351 of a second behind Malukas. McLaughlin starts tomorrow’s race in third as he looks to earn his first victory since Milwaukee in 2024, 28 races ago.

Following the Chevrolets was the Hondas of Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher, the latter being the fastest rookie in the field. They start eighth and 16trh tomorrow respectively.

Schumacher and teammate Louis Foster (15th) were the only drivers to improve on their best lap from the morning practice.

Armstrong’s teammate and Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist was fifth and starts 17th in the race.

After leading practice this morning, earning the pole for tomorrow and leading the preceding “high-line” session, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood was sixth in final practice.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, who leads Kirkwood by 56 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings, was sixth. Last year’s runner-up at Nashville will start fourth in tomorrow’s race.

Graham Rahal did make slight contact with the outside wall in Turn 2 but was able to drive his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda back to pit road under yellow.

In the waning minutes of practice, Armstrong brushed the wall on the front straight away, with A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci spinning on the infield grass while looking to avoid him. Neither driver would receive significant damage in the contact. Ferrucci did end the session in sixth and starts 11th tomorrow.

Up Next 

Here is the schedule for tomorrow at Nashville Superspeedway. Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media platforms with the latest on the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. 

At-track schedule (all times Central):

SUNDAY, JULY 19
4:35 p.m. – FOX on air (all times approximate, based on World Cup Final)
4:35 p.m. – Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls “Drivers, start your
engines”
4:40 p.m. – Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls (300 laps/399
miles), FOX (Live)

Header Image By James Black/INDYCAR