David Malukas came oh so close to starting on the pole for the NTT IndyCar Series Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. The problem as he watched and waited to see if his lap of 201.922 mph would hold up was that Pato O’Ward was still to come.
That turned out to be significant, as O’Ward turned in a lap of 202.621 mph and claimed the pole for this Sunday (Aug. 31) at Nashville Superspeedway. Malukas settled for second as series point leader Alex Palou went out last but could only muster enough speed to start fourth.
Christian Lundgaard qualified third, and Scott DIxon rounded out the top five. Josef Newgarden, looking to break through in a winless 2025 at his hometown track, qualified sixth.
This was the second straight week that Malukas almost managed to grab his first IndyCar pole, as he sat atop the speed chart for some time at Milwaukee as well. That time it was the final qualifier Palou who just nipped him, so if anything at least the wait was slightly less agonizing in Nashville.
Both Callum Ilott, whose speed would have good enough to put him in the top 10, and Christian Rasmussen received nine-spot grid penalties as a result of unapproved engine changes and will start Sunday in the back half of the 27-car field.
2025 IndyCar Borchetta Bourbon Music City Starting Lineup
Coverage of the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, the IndyCar season finale, will kick off at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 31 on FOX.
