QUALIFYING RESULTS 

12th: RINUS VEEKAY No. 21 Chevrolet
17th: CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN* No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet

RACE: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
TRACK: Nashville Superspeedway
LOCATION: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
TRACK LAYOUT: 1.33-mile D-shaped oval
RACE LENGTH: 206 laps | 267.8 Miles

BROADCAST: Sunday – 2 p.m. CT (NBC, Peacock)

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, NO. 20 GUYCARE CHEVROLET

CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN, No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet, Qualified 17th*: “I feel like I have taken to Nashville Superspeedway pretty quickly never having been here before! I got everything out of it I could on the qualifying run and we were maybe a little bit conservative on the setup side of things. We went more aggressive than in practice, but you never really know how big of a step you need to take! In hindsight, we could’ve gone a little bit more, but overall, I think it was a pretty strong run for us.”

*will receive a nine-spot grid penalty for an unapproved engine change

OF NOTE: 

• Despite never having turned a single lap at Nashville Superspeedway prior to this morning’s first practice session, Christian Rasmussen set the 8th-fastest lap of the field. His two-lap average during qualifications was 17th overall; however, a fire ignited in the back of the No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet immediately following his run. While the crew quickly extinguished the flames, the car required a new engine. Rasmussen will receive a nine-spot grid penalty for an unapproved engine change.

• The 24-year-old has continually impressed in his debut NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. In his first Indianapolis 500, he drove from 24th to 12th and was the highest finishing rookie in the field. After a strong race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, he had a breakout performance at the next road course of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Rasmussen advanced to the second round of qualifying for the first time and earned his first Top 10 starting position. He took the checkered flag in 9th, his first career Top 10 finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In the streets of Toronto, he continued to show his versatility behind the wheel by advancing in qualifying for the second event in a row.

• While Ed Carpenter was scheduled to drive the No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet in the oval races this season, Rasmussen’s performance throughout his rookie year led his team owner to provide him the opportunity to drive the No. 20 in the final three races of the year. Though he had never turned a lap at the Milwaukee Mile prior to the race weekend, he was the 16th-fastest qualifier for Race 1 of the doubleheader. He had to start 23rd following a grid penalty but gained 12 positions over the course of the race, narrowly missing out on a Top 10.

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 CHEVROLET

RINUS VEEKAY, No. 21 Chevrolet: “I am very excited for one more NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this year! It has been a crazy season and will end with a crazy last race with neither Christian (Rasmussen) or I ever having turned a lap at Nashville Superspeedway. It will be interesting, we have a bit of practice but we’ll be figuring it out on the fly! We’ve progressed so much through the season and earned a lot of Top 10s in the second half. I am looking forward to adding to that, getting some good points and hopefully moving up a few positions in the standings!”

OF NOTE: 

• Rinus VeeKay will look to continue his string of Top 10 finishes on ovals in the final race of the season. As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES last visited Nashville Superspeedway in 2008, tomorrow’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will be his first race at the oval. In qualifications, VeeKay’s two-lap average placed him 12th on the starting grid. As other competitors will have to serve penalties for unapproved engine changes, he will move up the order.

• VeeKay began 2024 with a Top 10 finish in the season-opening street course race in St. Petersburg, Florida. At the Indianapolis 500, VeeKay and his No. 21 crew rebounded from a crash during his first qualification attempt and not being in the 33-car field to advancing the to the second day of qualifying and earning the 7th starting position. The following week, VeeKay raced his way through the entire field to finish 9th after a penalty dropped him to the back. Throughout the summer, VeeKay finished no worse than 11th for five consecutive races.  

• Like his teammate, VeeKay had not raced at the Milwaukee Mile prior to the doubleheader event two weeks ago. In the second race of the weekend, VeeKay finished 7th. With that result, he has earned a Top 10 finish on each oval the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has raced at this season.