Kyle Kirkwood dominated the opening practice session at St. Petersburg, setting the fastest lap time of 1m00.441s in his No. 27 Honda. The Andretti Global driver showcased his street circuit expertise, building on his successful 2023 campaign where he secured two victories.

The 75-minute session was divided into three segments, with Honda-powered cars leading each portion. Alex Palou topped the main 45-minute segment with a 1m01.211s in his Chip Ganassi Racing No. 10 Honda, while Colton Herta led the second qualifying simulation group with a 1m01.060s in the No. 28 Honda.

Notable incidents included Meyer Shank Racing teammates executing dramatic spins in Turn 3. Felix Rosenqvist completed a full 360-degree rotation without contact, while Marcus Armstrong's spin resulted in the session's only red flag. Scott McLaughlin ended the day with wall contact in his Team Penske No. 3 Chevy, requiring suspension repairs before Saturday's practice.

"We obviously got better as the session progressed," Kirkwood noted. "We've always been really good on street courses. Nashville was impeccable last year, and I hope this is just a continuation of our strong finish to last season, positioning us as true championship contenders."

The next practice session is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.

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