The last IndyCar round of the 2024 opens with a practise session ahead of Qualifying for the first oval championship deciding final round in ten years.
Daly following his podium last time out in Milwaukee was out first on track in Nashville, with Palou setting the best early lap speed in 196.830mph, followed by Kirkwood and the Juncos Hollinger driver himself.
Ten minutes into the session the first caution of the day was issued as Nolan Siegel has a big shunt after running over a bump at Turn 4. The Arrow McLaren driver was feeling fine, but undertaking qualifying with less then 10 minutes of track time will definitely be a challenge for the rookie.
The caution was longer than expected as there was significant damage on the wall to be fixed following the impact, the fourth in the same spot considering the earlier IndyNXT session.
Session resumed with only 50 minutes remaining of the original 1:30h session. Rossi is the first to improve, moving up to the top spot with the first lap in the 197mphs.Rosenqvist and Power move up to P3 and 4 respectively.
Power and O’Ward are the next to improve, with the Penske championship contender signing a 197.756mph, as Herta moved up to P3. The Andretti driver is also the first to put in a lap in the 198mphs, 6mph off the latest pole lap set at the track by Castroneves in 2014.
Rosenqvist had to pit to fix a front upright issue, whereas Armstrong’s car no.11 stopped on track and had to be wheeled back. Both drivers were unable to resume the session.
His teammate and championship leader Alex Palou in the meantime retook the top spot in 199.240mph, with Scott Dixon joining him on the podium with a top speed of 198.2mph.
With ten minutes to go the Ganassi duo solidified their lead with the Spaniard and the six times champion very closely lapping in 199.8mphs, ending the session comfortably ahead of the rest of the field.
Herta, O’Ward and Kirkwood complete the top five, whereas Power, McLaughlin, Rasmussen, Ericsson and Ferrucci ran in the top ten.
