An inner panel of an air bag cooperates with a first panel portion of the air bag so as to define a duct having an entrance adapted to receive gas from a gas generator through an opening in the first panel portion. The terminus of the duct provides for discharging the gas to a distal location within the air bag, so as to provide for relatively early inflation thereof. The inner panel may be vented into the interior of the air bag so as to provide for tuning inflation kinematics.