Daly to Qualify Car 12

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Conor Daly will qualify the 12 car for David Malukas, who was injured in a practice crash this morning. Malukas’s knee hit the steering wheel and popped it out of the car.

The number 12 car will serve a nine grid spot penalty for an engine change no matter who qualifies it. It is uncertain whether Malukas will return for this evening’s practice sessions.

No announcement, therefore, has come about who will be in the car on race day. Daly is the most likely driver since he drove in the Indianapolis 500 in May.

The 12 car is scheduled to make the 22nd qualifying attempt this afternoon. The Team Penske Verizon crew is currently assembling a backup car.

Should Malukas be able to race on sinday, he car will start 25th.

Kirkwood Leads Practice; Malukas Injured

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Kyle Kirkwood set the fast lap early in practice 1 for the Music City Grand Prix. David Malukas crashed heavily in turn 2 about 30 minutes into the session. The red flag lasted 20 minutes to repair safer barrier damage. Malukas has been transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

IndyCar added 10 minutes to the session to make up some of the time lost.

Temperatures rose quickly during the only practice before qualifying it will be ve evenwarmer during qualifying at 2 pm local time.

Alex Palou mounted a challenge to Kirkwood late in the session, but ended the round 0.0158 seconds behind the Andretti driver. Despite Malukas’s crash, he still had the third fastest lap.

Malukas began the day on the back foot as he and Christian Lundgaard received 9 grid spot penalties for unapproved engine changes. We are waiting for an update on Malukas’s status for today and tomorrow.

Next up is qualifying at 3 pm Eastern time on FOX.

Results

Nashville: Heat, Rain Loom over Weekend

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Good morning from an already warm Nashville. Weather may play a significant role in how the race weekend plays out.

rwx

The weather from @Indycar_Wwxman: from last night:

I think today will be dry, but tomorrow could see a delay in the start of the race, which will hurt the television number the series is seeking. Let’s hope any rain on Sunday is pushed more towards sunset, although I would not mind a night race at this track.

Today’s schedule in Central time:

Qualifying is on FOX, a first for the network. Morning practices are on FS1 and everything after IndyCar qualifying is on FS2.

There are rumblings in the paddock about the historic first charter sale and talk of an existing team getting new ownership. I hope to find out the details this weekend.

I will be back after rthe first practice with results, and I want to see how the track is addressing fan comfort this weekend.

Nashville Preview

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IndyCar returns to the oval at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend, ending a six week drought of races on ovals. It will be another six weeks before the next oval race.

Nashville had been the season finale in 2024 and 2025, but the race was moved to be the event following the World Cup in hopes of scoring a huge television rating- good for sponsors and the series. I’m not sure how many soccer fans will stick around after the game, featuring Spain and Argentina, but I think there will be a significant viewing boost.

The racing at Nashville has been great the past two years, and I’m disappointed to hear rumblings of moving the race downtown after the new football stadium is built. In your intrepid reporter’s humble opinion, that would be a mistake. Why give up an exciting oval for a dull street race on a track not likely to be much better than what we saw downtown before? If the series wants a downtown street race in Nashville, fine, as long as the oval is also on the schedule.

Alex Palou enters the weekend with a 56-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard and David Malukas are close behind with deficits of 65 and 66 points respectively. The battle for second place has been fascinating to watch. It seems the spot has changed hands after nearly every race this season.

Josef Newgarden has won 11 of the last 27 oval races, including two of the three in 2026. He has to be the favorite as the weekend begins. Pato O’Ward has dominated the previous two races here but has yet to find winner’s circle. David Malukas still is in search of the elusive first victory.

New Wrinkles

While the usual suspects are likely to be at the front on race day, a couple of changes to the format might add more intrigue to the event. The race distance has increased for third consecutive year, jumping to 300 laps, 399 miles. on Sunday. 400 miles would be too long of a race. Last year the race distance was 225 laps; in 2024 the distance was 206 laps.

The 2025 race ran 1 hour, 54 minutes. Sunday’s race should last 30-35 minutes longer.

Like on street circuits, teams must use two sets of alternate tires during the race, which feature at least five pit stops per car, possibly six. The strategy will be interesting to watch.

There is some rain in the forecast for Sunday, and the chance increase because of the heating during the day. A rain delay would be devastating to the TV number IndyCar is hoping for.

As for the winner, Pato O’Ward finally leads the correct lap at Nashville for his second straight series win. Arrow McLaren has all the momentum. The team has won the last races and one pole. O’Ward and Lundgaard dominated Mid-Ohio. look for the papaya express to continue.

Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix Presented by OnlyBulls Fast Facts 

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From IndyCar:

 Race weekend: Saturday, July 18-Sunday, July 19
Track: Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee
Race distance:NTT INDYCAR SERIES Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls: 300 laps/399 miles INDY NXT by Firestone INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix: 65 laps/86 .45 miles

|Weekend Event Schedule (PDF)

Hybrid energy deployment parameters:
NTT INDYCAR SERIESUnlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 140 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.

Firestone tire allotment:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Seven sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and two sets of alternate tires during the race. One additional set is available for use during the high-line group practice session on Saturday.

INDY NXT by FirestoneThree new sets for use throughout the event weekend. A carryover set from the April 2 Open Test held at Nashville may be used during the pre-qualifying practice session Saturday.

X: @musiccitygp, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
Instagram: @musiccitygp, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @MusicCityGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
TikTok: @MusicCityGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.musiccitygp.com
INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com

2025 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Myles Rowe (No. 99 ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy)
2025 NTT P1 Award winner: ,Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet), 47.5178 seconds, 201.520 mph (two laps)
2025 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:Salvador de Alba (No. 27 Andretti Global), 51.9106 seconds, 184.471

One-lap qualifying record:NTT INDYCAR SERIES Scott Dixon, 22.6952 seconds, 206.211 mph, July 18, 2003
INDY NXT by Firestone Thiago Medeiros, 25.6508 seconds, 182.386 mph, July 16, 2004Note: Qualifying records based on time, not speed.

FOX Sports telecasts:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 10 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live);
Qualifying, 3 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live);
High Line Session/Final practice, 6 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2;
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls, Approx 5:35 p.m. ET, Sunday, FOX, FOX One (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | 

INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter

.INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young is the turn announcer. Jake Query, Ryan Myrehn and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls race (5 p.m. ET Sunday) can be heard live on network affiliates nationwide. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, INDY NXT by Firestone race (12:55 p.m. ET Sunday), NTT P1 Award qualifying (3 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices also air live on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times Central):
SATURDAY, JULY 18
9-10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice, FS1
10:35-11:25 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, FS1
2 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, Two laps, FOX
3:35 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Single car, Two laps), FS2
5 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES High Line Session (Two groups, four alternating 10-minute sessions), FS2
6-7 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, FS2
SUNDAY, JULY 19
12:01 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”
12:06 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix (65 laps/86.45 miles), FS1
4:35 p.m. – FOX on air (all times approximate, based on World Cup Final)
4:35 p.m. – Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls “Drivers, start your engines”
4:40 p.m. – Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls (300 laps/399 miles), FOX (Live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls will be the 12th race of the 2026 season. There have been six winners in the first 11 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season. Alex Palou (Streets of St. Petersburg, Barber Motorsports Park, Streets of Long Beach and Streets of Detroit), Josef Newgarden (Phoenix Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway), Christian Lundgaard (Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and Road America), Kyle Kirkwood (Streets of Arlington), Felix Rosenqvist (Indianapolis 500) and Pato O’Ward (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course).
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls will be the fourth oval race of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Two of the first three oval races were won by Josef Newgarden of Team Penske (Phoenix Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway). Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian won the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in May.
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls will be the 11th INDYCAR SERIES event at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden are the only former Nashville Superspeedway winners entered in the event. Dixon won three consecutive races in 2006-08. Newgarden, a native of Hendersonville, Tenn., has won 13 of the last 30 oval races on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule (2021-present), including last year’s race. Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood won the three editions of the Music City Grand Prix held on the streets of downtown Nashville
.Twenty-two drivers have previous starts at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott Dixon has the most starts, with eight.
Eleven drivers have led laps at the track: Dixon 248, Pato O’Ward 137, Josef Newgarden 114, Kyle Kirkwood 67, Alexander Rossi 48, Alex Palou 11, David Malukas 9, Scott McLaughlin 7, Will Power 5, Rinus VeeKay 2 and Marcus Armstrong 1.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 368th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 268th consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 231st consecutive start, the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon will extend his record to 431 with a start Sunday.

NDY NXT by Firestone Race Notes:The ultra-competitive INDY NXT by Firestone season continues with the season’s second oval visit of the season at Nashville Superspeedway. The HMD Motorsports duo of Enzo Fittipaldi and Tymek Kucharczyk top the point standings with Fittipaldi leading Kucharczyk by 17 points. Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR’s Nikita Johnson is just 20 points behind the lead. The 2026 season has seen eight winners in 12 races. The series record is 10 different winners in both 2008 and 1998.The INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix will be the series’ ninth race at Nashville Superspeedway. Myles Rowe won the race in 2025. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Nashville include Cory Witherill, Mark Taylor, Thiago Medeiros, Jay Howard, Ana Beatriz and Louis Foster. 

Name, Logo, Launch Plan Unveiled for Standalone INDYCAR Video Game

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 Highly Anticipated Title Coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox, Steam in Early 2027

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, July 10, 2026) – iRacing and INDYCAR on July 10 announced that INDYCAR Racing The Game, the highly anticipated official standalone INDYCAR video game developed by world-renowned motorsport simulation company iRacing Studios, is set to launch in early 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles and PC via Steam.
INDYCAR Racing The Game brings the raw speed, precision and drama of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to a new generation of racing fans and gamers. Leveraging iRacing Studios’ industry-leading expertise in authentic motorsport simulation, the title promises to deliver an unmatched open-wheel racing experience – from the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the sport’s most celebrated street circuits, road courses and ovals.
“INDYCAR features the most competitive and action-packed racing on the planet, challenging drivers at every turn with incredible speeds and demanding layouts,” said Alex Damron, INDYCAR chief marketing officer.
“Our new video game is going to capture the energy and drama of our sport with hyper-realism, bringing our series to a new generation of gamers. Partnering with iRacing — the gold standard in racing simulation — ensures this will be a truly special new chapter in our gaming history. We can’t wait for fans to get behind the wheel.”
This is the first INDYCAR standalone video game in more than two decades and is expected to launch in the countdown to the 2027 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.”This is a project our team has been passionate about for a long time,” said Tony Gardner, iRacing president.
“We’re bringing everything we know about authentic, immersive racing to consoles and PC, and creating an experience worthy of the INDYCAR name. 2027 can’t come soon enough.”INDYCAR Racing The Game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Steam. Additional game details, including features, modes, and pre-order information, will be announced in the coming months.
For more information, visit www.indycargame.com.