Kirkwood Tops First Practice at Firestone Grand Prix

Kyle Kirkwood from Andretti led the first practice session of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR Series at the Firestone Grand Prix, clocking an impressive time of 1:00.4409 seconds in his No. 27 Chili’s Honda. Reigning series champion Alex Palou closely followed in second, just 0.15 seconds behind, while Scott McLaughlin from Penske finished third. The session featured 27 drivers and was structured into three segments to allow alternating groups on the track. Notable placements included Colton Herta in fourth and Pato O'Ward in fifth, with rookie Louis Foster finishing an impressive 12th.

Despite the competitive atmosphere, the session was marred by incidents, particularly for McLaughlin, who sustained suspension damage after crashing into a wall. Marcus Armstrong also spun but managed to avoid significant contact. The newly introduced hybrid systems added complexity, leading to challenges, especially at the notoriously difficult Turn 3, which caused several spins. With teams expected to make adjustments overnight, anticipation builds for the next practice session as they refine their strategies ahead of the race.