Pato O’Ward already has an oval victory this season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, so it was no surprise to see him atop the speed charts after the first practice Saturday for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot.

What was surprising, however, was the route the Mexican took to reach the top.

O’Ward turned a best lap of 202.357 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet on the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway oval. But he was one of the few drivers who didn’t sample the softer, faster but less durable Firestone Firehawk alternate tires available to drivers at this final event of the season, instead staying on the harder, more durable but slower primary tires during the 60-minute session.

SEE: Practice Results

“That feels good,” O’Ward said. “I’m happy to go with that into qualifying. We didn’t get a run in on the softs, which we’ll be qualifying on, but I think it’s just extra grip, or that’s what it seems like. I think we’re in good shape.”

O’Ward won the Synk 275 in July at Iowa Speedway for the first of his two victories this season en route to clinching second behind champion Alex Palou in the series standings. He joins Palou and Milwaukee winner Christian Rasmussen as the only drivers to finish in the top 10 of all five oval events so far this season.

NTT P1 Award Qualifying is next, at 2 p.m. ET today (FS2, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 225-lap race starts at 2 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Last year’s Nashville pole sitter, Kyle Kirkwood, was second in today’s practice at 201.975 in the No. 27 Andretti INDYCAR Honda. Christian Lundgaard was third at 201.645 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet as that team put two drivers in the top three.

Scott Dixon

Reigning Nashville winner Colton Herta joined Andretti Global teammate Kirkwood in the top four at 201.623 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Six-time series champion Scott Dixon (photo, above) rounded out the top five at 201.619 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Dixon won three consecutive races at this concrete oval from 2006-08.

Palou had a scary situation 48 minutes into the session when he spun in his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda while exiting pit road. The car slid toward the oval, but four-time and freshly crowned series champion Palou was able to wrestle the car away from the active racing surface and traffic with no contact or damage.

The only other yellow flag came earlier when Devlin DeFrancesco wiggled in Turn 3 in the No. 30 Dogecoin Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and brushed the SAFER Barrier in Turn 4. DeFrancesco was able to continue to the pits.