Photo: Jimmie Johnson enters turn three

Welcome to Qualifying Day at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. I am eager to see how much times drop on the alternate red tires today.

Today’s schedule- All Times Central

From last night

Herta Leads Successful First Day for Music City Grand Prix

Herta Leads Successful First Day for Music City Grand Prix

Indycar gets on the track earlier today for a 45 minute practice at noon, followed by qualifying at 3:30. Both sessions are streamed on Peacock. Because of the Olympics, NBCSN will not re-air qualifying later tonight. It’s sad that this event does not get any wider media exposure than the race on NBCSN tomorrow. I hope this is an NBC race next year.

Points leader Alex Palou will have a six place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change after the Portland test. This is the second grid penalty this season for the NTT Data team. Palou also started six places lower than he qualified in Detroit Race 1. He finished 15th. Palou needs to qualify in the top three or four to have a chance of maintaining a healthy lead. He was sixth yesterday. Scott Dixon, third in the standings, was second.

I’ll be back later tonight with a qualfying wrap-up.