By: Spencer Neff
July 18, 2026
2024 Nashville Superspeedway pole sitter Kyle Kirkwood kicked off the weekend by leading opening practice for Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. Kirkwood, who runs second in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings, posted a best lap of 197.097 mph (23.7447 seconds) on the 1.33-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Inverting their standing in the current series points, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou ran second in the session, .0158 of a second back of Kirkwood, who Palou leads by 56 in the current standings.
Team Penske’s David Malukas was the fastest Chevrolet in the session, slotting third behind the Honda duo in spite of a crash during the session (more on that later).
Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing was fourth as A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci closed out the Top Five. Malukas’ teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, who finished first and third in this race a year ago, were sixth and seventh. Newgarden has won both races contested on short ovals (less than 1.3 miles in length) this year at Phoenix and Worldwide Technology Raceway.
Ferrucci’s teammate Caio Collet was fastest among the rookie trio in eighth.
Less than halfway into the session, Malukas snapped loose between Turns 1and 2, resulting in his car spinning towards the outside wall in a heavy impact. Malukas climbed from his damaged race car with minimal assistance. Fox Sports’ Georgia Henneberry reported that Maluaks was awake and alert while undergoing further observation, as relayed from INDYCAR Deputy Medical Director, Dr. Angela Fiege.
Following the broadcast, Malukas was transported to a local hospital via private vehicle,
Malukas and Lundgaard assessed nine-place grid penalties
Before practice, INDYCAR Officiating announced penalties for the No. 7 Arrow McLaren (Christian Lundgaard) and No. 12 Team Penske (David Malukas) entries. Per Saturday morning’s release, the entries were in violation of:
“The entries were in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Approved Engine Change-Out 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 event, which is the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls on Sunday, July 19 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Up Next
Here is the remaining schedule for the weekend 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):
SATURDAY, JULY 18
2 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, Two laps, FOX
5 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES High Line Session (Two groups, four alternating 10-minute
sessions), FS2
6-7 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, FS2
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 Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR, Fast Facts by INDYCAR
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