Category: Auto Racing

A Few Thoughts on the Music City Grand Prix

thepitwindow

Move over, kids, the adults are back in charge. Scott Dixon’s historic win today moves him into second place in the championship, six points behind Will Power. It is going to be fun watching these 40 year olds duke it out the last three races of the year.

Dixon also pased Mario Andretti to take sole possession of second place on the Indycar career victory list with 53. I was sad that I missed his record tying win in Toronto last month, but seeing him move into second place alone more than made up for missing the Toronto race.

The track underwent some changrs since last year’s caution filled race. The result was even more caution laps and another totally unnecessary red flag with four laps to go. Indycar was lucky that another caution didn’t occur in the funal two green laps. The odds certainly favored that outcome.

Missed Opportunities

There missed career best finishes. Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas were both headed for their best results of their rookie campaigns until they collided in turn 9 on lap 63. Kirkwood has had difficulty completing races this season, but Malkukas has bee coming on strong.

Christian Lundgaard was in line for his second straight podium but faded to eighth as he had no push to pass left on the last restart.

Marcus Ericsson had worked his way from 18th spot to get ahead of Power and at one time closed to within three points of the points leader. It all went away as his car stopped with two laps to go. He is third in points, 12 behind Power.

RLL Continues Improvement

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has come to life the last two weeks.

Lundgaard was in contention for his second consecutive podium until he rab out of push to pass at the end. He finished eighth. Meanwhile Jack Harvey finished 10th. The team has ahd two top 10 finishers for two consecutive weeks.

What Else Can Be Done?

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix made changes to the track afetr the 2021 race to eliminate some of the problems we saw last year. The resuklt was even more cautions. Last year I thought it was the track design. Improvements. This year, I’m thinking it was not the track. I will have to look at last year’s race summary to see if any of the same drivers were involved in incidents last year.

Indycar can’t keep having nearly 50% of an event run under caution.

Final Thoughts

Much of the very large crowd stayed through the rain delay and many stayed for the entire race. Grandstands 4 and 5 were completely filled for the whole race.

The event was much improved in many ways, which I will discuss in my wrap up tomorrow afternoon. There are still a few things to tweak. I realize it takes several years for an event of this type to get things right. The Nashville group made very good progress in their second year.

Thanks for following along this weekend.

Nashville Race Day

thepitwindow

Today’s Schedule: All Times Central

8:00 AM GATES OPEN

9:15 AM INDYCAR WARMUPS Peacock

10:00 AM VINTAGE INDY SESSION

10:55 AM GT AMERICA RACE 2

12:10 PM INDY LIGHTS RACE Peacock

1:20 PM INDYCAR PRE RACE CEREMONIES

2:30 PM INDYCAR BIG MACHINE MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX NBC; Peacock

4:45 PM INDYCAR VICTORY LANE CELEBRATION

5:05 PM STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS RACE 2

5:45 PM POST RACE CONCERT – BRANTLEY GILBERT & CARLY PEARCE

It will be another hot sticky day in Nashville, Temperature at race time will be 91 degrees with a heat index approaching triple digits. Stay hydrated if you are at the track.

Drivers expressed concerns about the heat in the cars yesterday. Apparently cooling shirts will not be used as of now. I’m not sure why. If everyone used them the wieght disadvantage is neutralized.

Can Scott McLaughlin win from the pole again? he is the only driver to do so this year. The driver starting second has woin seven times in 2022. Team Penske has looked strong all weekend. I’m going with Josef Newgarden today. His strategy during the Fast Six yesterday tells me that team is on to something.

From Last Night

McLaughlin on Music City Pole

https://thepitwindow.blog/2022/08/06/mclaughlin-on-music-city-pole/

Marcus Ericsson won from 18th last year, and he starts there again today. I don’t think this race will be as chaotic as the 2021 race to allow him to move that far forward. again.

The Starting Lineup

McLaughlin on Music City Pole

thepitwindow1 Comment

A frantic penalty filled qualifying session and a great fight in the Fast Six saw Scott McLaughlin come out on top with his second pole of 2022. He will kead the field to the green flag in tomorrow’s second Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. McLaughlin is the onkly driver to win from pole this season. He won the openeing race at St. Pete from the pole. Romain Grosjean will start second, just nissing his second career pole. The lasy minute of the Fast Six saw Christian Lundgaard jump to the top, then he was qickly replaced by Pato O’Ward. Mclaughlin nabbed the pole on his last lap.

Qualifying started 90 minutes late as thunderstorms and heavy rain moved over the track just before Indy lights qualifying was scheduled to begin. Indy Lights will now line up according to entrant points for tomorrow’s race.

The first group in round one got off to a ragged start. Ddevlin DeFrancesco stopped in turn 4 on the initial out lap. DeFrancesco was not allowed to continue. With a minute left in the session and several drivers about to start their hot kap, Colton Herta slid into the turn 4 tires. Herta lost his fastest two laps, but he cost at least two drivers a chance to advance. Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi did not get to turn a lap on the quicker alternate tires. Pagenaud will start 13th and Rossi 17th.

Will Power led a clean group 2, but in the round of twelve Power had to go through the runoff area and rejoin the track. He lost his best lap and will start eighth.

In the Fast Six Christian Lundgaard just missed his frist career pole. He will start third.

Josef Newgarden starngely chose not to switch to the alternate tires in the Fast Six and will star sixth. Is he saving the alternates for the race?

I will have a pre race story tomorrow morning with an updated weather forecast. I have a feeling we could see a repeat of today.

Day 2 at Nashville- Will Rookies Stay Up Front?

thepitwindow

Todeay’s Schedule. All Times Central

9:00 AM GATES OPEN

9:00 AM-5:00 PM PRO WATERCROSS ON THE CUMBERLAND

9:30 AM TRANS AM SERIES QUALIFYING

10:15 AM INDY LIGHTS PRACTICE 2

11:15 AM INDYCAR PRACTICE 2 Peacock

12:30 PM TRANS AM RACE

1:55 PM GT AMERICA QUALIFYING

2:30 PM INDY LIGHTS QUALIFYING

3:30 PM INDYCAR QUALIFYING Peacock

5:45 PM VINTAGE INDY SESSION

6:15 PM STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS RACE 1

7:25 PM GT AMERICA RACE 1

8:30 PM HEADLINE CONCERT – TIM MCGRAW

10:00PM FIREWORKS SHOW

Usually the second practice yields much different results than the Friday practice. The track has more rubber down, and teams make adjustments overnight. Will yesterday’s top three of rookies Christian Lundgaard,and David Malukas, plus Felix Rosemqvist continue at or near the top of the charts?

I’m still looking at the usual suspects for pole- Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Rosenqvist.

Weather could be a factor. there is a chance of from 1 pm to 4 pm with temperatures in the upper 80s.

Some Improvements, Some Things Still Needed.

I was happy to see that all grandstands were finished and spectator ready yesterday morning. That is a major correctionfrom last year’s grandstand 6 debacle.

The grand prix has added at least two cool down tents. Each tent has misting fans in all four corners. It was a pleasant relief from the heat and humidity.

Since the start of the race and all restarts will take plac on the Korean War Veterans Bridge, a new flag stand is in place.

The water bottle filling station is a great service, but there needs to be a way to keep the water cold. Refilling your bottle with warm water doesn’t help.

One thing I would like to see the event add is a tram service for those sitting in the grandstands on the outside of the backstretch. There are ADA trams, but if fans in the outer stands want to visit the paddock or friends in the infield, they have a long walk. Another crossover bridge would be helpful.

I will say the Music City Grand Prix did not skimp on bleacher and stands. The seating areas are well constructed and among the sturdiest I have seen. The crossover bridge fromNissanstadium to the infield has two separate one way sets of stairs. with short flights. It was mus=ch easier going to and from the infield.

I’ll be back later with practice results and to set the qualifying groups.