Louis Foster started his first race as INDY NXT by Firestone champion in a familiar position – out front.

Foster led the opening practice for the season-ending Music City Grand Prix on Saturday morning with a top lap of 185.370 mph in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies machine fielded by Andretti Global. Foster clinched the championship at the last race, Aug. 31 at the Milwaukee Mile.

SEE: Practice Results

Jacob Abel, Foster’s closest pursuer in the standings, was second at 184.479 in the No. 51 Abel Construction car of Abel Motorsports. Rookie Bryce Aron ended up third at 184.320 in the No. 27 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield car fielded by Andretti Global.

2024 Rookie of the Year Caio Collet was fourth at 183.367 in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car, with Jamie Chadwick putting three Andretti Global cars in the top five at 183.205 in the No. 28 VEXT machine.

Three crashes by rookies interrupted the 30-minute session on the 1.33-mile concrete oval, the longest circle track of the season for the INDYCAR development series.

Christian Brooks spun and made hard contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 4 in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports entry just four minutes into the session. There was heavy damage to the car, but Brooks was unhurt.

Ten minutes later, Salvador de Alba Jr. wiggled between Turns 3 and 4 and made left side and rear contact with the SAFER Barrier in the No. 2 Grupo Indi car of Andretti Cape INDY NXT. The car suffered moderate damage, and de Alba was unhurt.

With the checkered flag to end the session in the air, Nolan Allaer spun off Turn 4 and made light contact with the SAFER Barrier in the No. 10 HMD Motorsports car. There was light damage to the rear wing, and Allaer drove the car to the pits.

Up next is another 30-minute practice at 1 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 3:45 p.m. (INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR Radio Network). Live coverage of the 65-lap race starts at 11:50 a.m. ET Sunday on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.