NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kyle Kirkwood says he felt calm on the ultimate restart, most likely greater than somebody in his second IndyCar Sequence season ought to.
That is simply how assured he was in how briskly Andretti Autosports had his Honda operating.
Kirkwood simply held off Scott McLaughlin over a last shootout after a late pink flag and gained the Music Metropolis Grand Prix on Sunday for his second profession victory.
“It was an outstanding afternoon,” Kirkwood stated. “I imply, we completely nailed the whole lot it felt prefer to be sincere. We had an incredible technique. Automobile was extraordinarily quick. By means of your complete race, I really feel like we have been most likely one of many quickest vehicles.”
The 24-year-old from Jupiter, Florida, began eighth and led a race-high 34 laps. He took the lead for good on lap 54 and appeared poised to race to the end when a warning with 10 laps remaining ensured he had sufficient gas left to provide Andretti Autosports its 72nd all-time IndyCar victory.
Then 4 vehicles crashed, three into one another off the restart forcing a pink flag stoppage.
On the restart on the finish of lap 77 of the 80-lap race, Kirkwood managed to drive by way of the rubber particles on the two.1-mile, 11-turn course across the streets of Nashville including his second profession victory to his first at Lengthy Seashore in April.
McLaughlin completed second in the same last shootout right here a 12 months in the past. He gained his second straight pole on