Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge Fast Facts

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From Indycar:

Race weekend: Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15
Track: Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge: 206 laps/273.98 miles
INDY NXT by Firestone INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix: 65 laps/86.45 miles
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 140 kilojoules (kJ) per lap
.Firestone tire allotment:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Six sets primary, four 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 upper/lower groove session Saturday.
INDY NXT by Firestone Two new sets for use through the event weekend. A carryover set from the Nashville Open Test in August may be used during pre-qualifying practice sessions Saturday
.X: @musiccitygp, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
Instagram: @musiccitygp, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @MusicCityGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
TikTok: @MusicCityGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR, #MusicCityGP
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.musiccitygp.comINDYCAR website: www.indycar.com
2008 race winners (most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway): NTT INDYCAR SERIES Scott Dixon (No. 9 Energizer Dallara/Honda/Firestone)
INDY NXT by Firestone Ana Beatriz (No. 20 Healthy Choice/Sam Schmidt Motorsports)
2008 NTT P1 Award winner (most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway): Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone), 1 minute, 31.5320 seconds, 204.519 mph (four laps)
2008 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner (most recent event at Nashville Superspeedway): James Davison (No. 11 Lifelock/Sam Schmidt Motorsports), 51.8844 seconds, 180.401 mph (two laps)
One-lap qualifying record: NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon, 22.6952 seconds, 206.211 mph, July 18, 2003
INDY NXT by Firestone Thiago Medeiros, 25.6508 seconds, 182.386 mph, July 16, 2004



NBC Sports race telecast: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge, 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 15, NBC. Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns and Georgia Henneberry are the pit reporters. Universo will provide a Spanish-language telecast.
Peacock live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while NBC’s telecast of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be simulcast on Peacock. The INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix will be streamed on Peacock, with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query, Michael Young and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge (3 p.m. ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix (11:45 a.m. ET Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone at Nashville Superspeedway practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times Central):
SATURDAY, SEPT. 14
9-9:30 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, INDYCAR LIVE
10-11:30 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice, Peacock
Noon-12:30 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, INDYCAR LIVE
1:15 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, Two laps, Peacock
2:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Single car, Two laps), INDYCAR LIVE
4:15-4:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Upper/Lower Groove Session (Two groups, 15 minutes each), Peacock
5-6 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, Peacock
SUNDAY, SEPT. 15
10:55 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines)
11 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix (65 laps/86.45 miles), Peacock2 p.m. NBC on air
2:25 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines”
2:30 p.m. Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge (206 laps/273.98 miles), NBC, Universo and Peacock (Live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship facts: Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship entering a title-deciding finale for the second time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Palou also led the championship with a race to go in 2021 and won the championship. Palou, who clinched the 2023 championship with one race to go in 2023, has led the point standings after 11 of the 16 rounds this season. He took the point lead at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in June. Three drivers are still mathematically eligible for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin. Palou will clinch his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the last four years with a finish of ninth or better. Nashville Superspeedway will host the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale for the first time in 2024. Tony Kanaan (2004) and Scott Dixon (2008) are the only drivers to win in Nashville and claim the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season.
Point differential: The 33 points separating Alex Palou and Will Power is the seventh-largest point margin with a race remaining since 2008. During that span, the average lead with one race remaining is 29.9 points.
Key championship point statistic: Ryan Hunter-Reay overcame a 17-point deficit to win the 2012 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship – the largest margin made up by an INDYCAR SERIES champion in the finale since 2000. Dan Wheldon made up 19 points in the 2006 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway to tie Sam Hornish Jr. atop the point standings, but Hornish won the championship via tiebreaker.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes: The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be the 17th and final race of the 2024 season. There have been seven winners in 16 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2024 season. Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Milwaukee Mile-1), Scott Dixon (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park, Iowa Speedway-1, Milwaukee Mile-2), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca), Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500, World Wide Technology Raceway), Will Power (Road America, Iowa Speedway-2, Portland International Raceway) and Colton Herta (Streets of Toronto) have all won in 2024. The modern record (1946-present) for the most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be the seventh oval race of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Five of the first six oval races were won by drivers from Team Penske – Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500, World Wide Technology Raceway), Scott McLaughlin (Iowa Speedway-1, Milwaukee Mile-2) and Will Power (Iowa Speedway-2). The remaining oval race (Milwaukee Mile-1) was won by Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge will be the ninth INDYCAR SERIES event at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott Dixon is the only former Nashville Superspeedway winner entered in the event. But Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood won the three editions of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix held on the streets of downtown Nashville. Josef Newgarden has won 10 of the last 17 oval races on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Newgarden, a native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, has never raced at Nashville Superspeedway. Three drivers have previous starts at Nashville Superspeedway – Scott Dixon, Will Power and Graham Rahal. Dixon has six starts, most of all drivers. Only Dixon has led laps at the track, leading 247 laps in his six starts. Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 339th consecutive start, extending his record streak.

INDY NXT by Firestone Race Notes :Andretti Global’s Louis Foster has already clinched the INDY NXT by Firestone championship but can cap his historically dominant season with another win at Nashville. Foster, a native of England, leads the series in wins (seven), poles (six), laps led (297 of 575), top-five finishes (12) and top-10 finishes (13) through 13 races. 
 

The Last Cowboys

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Summer 2024 has been rough on us older race fans. In June Parnelli Jones, 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died at the age of 90, and last Friday Paul Goldsmith, two-time USAC stock car champion and six-time 500 starter who finished third in the 1960 race, left us at the age of 98.

Jones and Goldsmith had something in common with just three other drivers still alive. The five were the last to drive front engine cars in the Indianapolis 500. The remaining three are all multiple Indianapolis 500 winners- A. J. Foyt, age 89; Gordon Johncock, 87; and Johnny Rutherford, 86. The trio has nine 500 victories between them, as many as the Unser family.

Gordon Johncock
Johnny Rutherford

The front engine cars of the 1950s and 60s were tanks, built with little regard to driver safety. Stepping into one of these cars knowing that any run could be your last one, took a certain amount of fearlessness The front engine design had probably reached its top speed at the Speedway, a touch over 150 miles per hour, as the rear engine cars quickly pushed them aside in the mid ‘60s.

The drivers mentioned survived one of the deadliest 20 year periods in the sport’s history, and the three still living all are within shouting distance of their 90th birthdays. Is there a correlation between getting through that difficult era of racing and being extremely talented?  How much can be ascribed to good fortune?

Both Foyt and Rutherford suffered severe injuries on the track. How Foyt survived his accidents at Road America and Riverside is nothing short of miraculous.

On the other hand, there are drivers just as gifted as these three who had fatal injuries on track- Bill Vukovich, Bob Sweikert, Ted Horn, Rex Mays, and Jimmy Bryan- to name a few.

Racing needs to do more to honor these three living pioneers of the modern era.  While IndyCar’s popularity is just a shadow of what it once was, it would probably have disappeared had it not been for the efforts of these men and a few others. Foyt alone brought some new life to IndyCar with his incredible success in the early 60s. I hope all three are still here next May.  Foyt will be 90 by then, and Johncock and Rutherford will be one year closer to their 10th decade. I would like to see IMS go all out to give these men, and the other drivers of front engine cars their due, as a thank you.

Because of drivers like Jones, Foyt, Johncock, Rutherford, and Goldsmith, IMS and auto racing went through a renaissance, and we older fans should be able to cheer for them one more time. If you are an old timer like me, and you are at the track, seek out Foyt or Rutherford to say hi and thank them \. Johncock rarely ventures to IMS.

90 isn’t too far away for some of us either.

Nashville Schedule

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All times Central. Nashville is in the Central time zone

Friday- on Broadway in downtown Nashville

5-6 m Pit Stop Challenge

Cars 21, 9, 45, 60, 28, 78

Saturday:
10 am-11:30: IndyCar Practice 1
1:15 m: IndyCar Qualifying
415-4:30 pm Group A

4:30-4:45 pm Group B

5-6 pm Final practice- all cars

Sunday:
10:50 am: IndyNXT Race Peacock, IndyCar Live
2:25 pm Drivers, start your engines

2:30 pm Green flag 206 laps NBC, Peacock, Indycar Radi

  • As of now, watch for some weather delays

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Goldsmith Dies at 98  

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This is very sad news. I was a huge Goldsmith fan back in the day. What a life he lived.

From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 6, 2024)– Indianapolis 500 veteran Paul Goldsmith, a winning competitor on two and four wheels, died Sept. 6 in Munster, Indiana. He was 98, the oldest Indianapolis 500 starter at the time of his passing.West Virginia native Goldsmith made six consecutive “500” starts between 1958-63. His best finish came in 1960, a third-place result in the No. 99 Demler Epperly/Offy car overshadowed by the sensational duel for victory between Jim Rathmann and Rodger Ward.
Goldsmith also finished fifth in 1959. That strong result came a year after he completed zero laps as a rookie starter in 1958, as he was caught in the multi-car accident that claimed the life of Pat O’Connor.
Goldsmith’s best qualifying position was ninth for his final start, in 1963.Incredibly, Goldsmith achieved such success at the top level of open-wheel racing despite making only eight career starts in cars without fenders. All eight races were USAC Championship events, including the six Indianapolis 500 starts.
Few racers in his era were more versatile and successful than the humble, quiet Goldsmith.
Raised in Detroit, he began racing motorcycles as a teenager after the end of World War II. He jumped immediately to American Motorcyclist Association expert status on Harley-Davidson machines, competing while working full time at a Chrysler factory. Goldsmith’s first major AMA motorcycle win came in 1952 on the 1-mile dirt track at Wisconsin State Fair Park, now paved and known as the Milwaukee Mile
.In 1953, Goldsmith won the Daytona 200 motorcycle race on the old beach road course, with his Harley prepared by legendary engine builder and tuner Smokey Yunick. He also won the 100-mile race at treacherous Langhorne (Pennsylvania) Speedway.
Goldsmith finished second in the AMA standings in 1954 to a protegee and friend from the West Coast who also achieved success on two and four wheels – Joe Leonard.
While still racing motorcycles, Goldsmith tried his hand at stock car racing, winning a 250-mile race in 1953 at the Detroit Fairgrounds. He made his final motorcycle start in 1956 and then focused on stock car racing, earning his first NASCAR victory that year in a 300-mile race at Langhorne for Yunick’s team.
Goldsmith was the final NASCAR Grand National winner on the old beach course in 1958 in Daytona Beach, Florida, while the construction of Daytona International Speedway was underway. He is the only competitor to win on the beach course in a car and on a motorcycle
.In 1959, Goldsmith teamed up with ace mechanic Ray Nichels and dominated the USAC Stock Car circuit in Nichels Engineering machines during the first half of the 1960s. He won the USAC Stock Car championship in 1961 and 1962 and finished second in 1960 and 1965.Goldsmith won 26 USAC Stock Car races in 85 starts, with 44 top-three finishes. Nineteen of those wins came in 39 starts during his title-winning seasons in 1961 and 1962.
He won nine races and earned 59 top-10 finishes in 127 NASCAR starts. His last NASCAR win came in 1966 at Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway.
Despite only six starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Goldsmith turned many laps at the Racing Capital of the World as Firestone’s chief test driver.
He also participated in one of the most unique events in IMS history, a 24-hour race between two cars Nov. 21-22, 1961. Goldsmith and fellow star drivers Ward, Len Sutton, Fireball Roberts, Marvin Panch and Joe Weatherly alternated between a Police Enforcer version of a Pontiac Catalina and a conventional Catalina in heavy rain, a test of the machinery and drivers. They were the first drivers to compete on the completely paved 2.5-mile oval, as the front straightaway of original brick was covered with asphalt in October 1961.
His noteworthy accomplishments on two and four wheels were honored with membership in several Halls of Fame, including the IMS Hall of Fame, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Motorcycle Hall of Fame, USAC Hall of Fame and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Goldsmith retired as a driver in 1969 to focus on his growing aviation exploits. He was a noted pilot, one of the first drivers to fly himself to and from races. He also trained pilots for China East Airlines, flew parts to races in his plane, and owned an aviation engine repair business and an airport in Griffith, Indiana. Goldsmith also owned a series of ranches and restaurants.
Goldsmith was predeceased by his wife, Helen, and son, Greg. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Goldsmith-Slifer. 
 

INDYCAR Announces Introduction of Firestone Alternate Tires at Nashville 

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From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 6, 2024) – In partnership with Firestone, INDYCAR has announced the addition of Firestone Firehawk alternate-compound tires for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale, the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge on Sept. 14-15 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Used in addition to Firestone Firehawk primary compounds, the softer alternate red-sidewall tires will provide another set of options, strategies and choices for drivers and teams as INDYCAR continues to enhance wheel-to-wheel racing action and turbocharge the championship weekend.
In addition, rules for use of the weekend’s tire allotment also have been updated.
Each NTT INDYCAR SERIES entry will receive:

Six sets of primary-compound tires
Four sets of alternate-compound tires

NTT INDYCAR SERIES teams may use their weekend allotment unrestricted in practice and NTT P1 Award qualifying.
In the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race, teams must use, in any order:

One set of primary-compound tires
Two sets of alternate-compound tires

As on road and street circuits, cars must complete two laps on each set of required tires. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a minimum one-lap penalty.
Also new to the event, there are no requirements whether the tires used in the race must be “new” or “used.” Additionally, there are no restrictions governing the use of new or used primary or alternate tires in NTT P1 Award qualifying.
This is the second time alternate-compound tires have been used on an oval following the successful debut of the option Aug. 27, 2023, at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway.
“Firestone has done a phenomenal job with this expanded format,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. “It will be interesting to watch how the different strategies play out. We look forward to an amazing race and championship for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at Nashville Superspeedway.”
In addition to the combined 10 sets of primary and alternate tires, each entry will receive a third and different set only to be used in the high-line group practice aimed at adding additional grip to a second racing groove – a session that has produced favorable results in 2023 and 2024.
“The time between the announcement of a new Nashville venue and the race itself was just seven months,” said Cara Krstolic, director, Race Tire Engineering and Production, chief engineer, Firestone. “Our Firestone team rose to the challenge of an extremely short design cycle and its shortest-ever production timeframe to produce tires for a now heavier hybrid-powered car on a track the NTT INDYCAR SERIES hasn’t competed on since 2008.
“Following two tests on the Nashville oval, we worked with INDYCAR to create differentiation in tires that would provide fans and competitors with an exciting race. To achieve that goal, Firestone is providing an alternate tire for the Music City Grand Prix. Lessons learned from introducing alternates on an oval last season at St. Louis also contributed to our preparation.
“The goal for the alternate tire is to have significant wear and degradation to the point that team pit stop strategies could change as tires may wear before the end of a fuel stint. They are also designed for the different grip levels of the two types of tires to aid in creating more passing opportunities.”
Practice at Nashville Superspeedway begins at 11 a.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 14, with NTT P1 Award qualifying scheduled for 2:15 p.m., high-line practice at 5:15 p.m. and the final practice of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at 6 p.m.
All sessions are available via Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Coverage of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Sept. 15 begins at 3 p.m. on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network. 

October is a Lovely Time for an Auto Race

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IndyCar ends its season next weekend, with at least four weeks of decent weather remining in the year in most of the country. In 2025, the season ends even earlier- on Labor Day weekend. As the calendar would have it, the season finale next year is on August 31. Why? Because IndyCar doesn’t want football to kill its ratings.

I have said this before- don’t be afraid of football, work around it. My good friend George Phiilips of Oilpressure is a big NFL and University of Tennessee fan. He prioritizes IndyCar until football season starts, then IndyCar goes on the back burner. I get that. Unlike George and a lot of other people, I don’t care for football. I probably cannot name 10 NFL quarterbacks; the only player I really know of is Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.

While I still have F1 continuing until November to get my open wheel fix it’s not the same. IndyCar is out of the public eye for six months. The series does not have a lot of post season awards tat they can give out a week at a time post season like the stick and ball sports. The checkered flag falls on the last race of the season, then we don’t hear much about IndyCar nationally until it’s time for St. Pete.

Going later in the year and accepting a ratings hit could avoid the four events in five week stretches which lead to long gaps between races during the current schedule.

The United Staes Grand Prix was in October at Watkins Glen was in October in the late 70s and early 80s.

How to work around football? Saturday afternoon races in the fall would avoid the NFL. True, there is college football on Saturday, but many games are lopsided. Would you rather watch an IndyCar race or the University of Georgia scoring 100 points against Nebraska Institute of Meteorology in September?

Everyone has their sports preference. In the racing postseason I prefer to watch college basketball and hockey, but neither starts until late October.

A mid-September race at Road America would be beautiful with the leaves turning color, and an October event in Phoenix could give Midwestern fans who attend a last taste of warm weather before settling in for the winter.

All may not be lost for fans like me. Mark Miles talked about putting together a postseason international series in an Indy Star article by Nathan Brown this morning. I would be fine with that, especially if it is shown opposite a football game.

IXO Models Becomes Exclusive Supplierof INDYCAR Diecast Model Cars 

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From Indycar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024) – IXO Models will become the exclusive supplier of INDYCAR diecast collectible model vehicles and accessories starting with the 2025 season.

This partnership between INDYCAR and IXO’s U.S.-based affiliate, IXO America, will offer the highest-quality, innovative models for racing enthusiasts and collectors alike at INDYCAR events and retailers in time for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
The new line of INDYCAR replicas will feature an array of iconic teams and cars from North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, meticulously re-created to capture every nuance of the real track cars. From sleek aerodynamic designs to vibrant, authentic paint schemes, these models are a must-have for collectors and racing fans. Upgraded aero kits in both 1:64 and 1:18 scale, race-worn tires and new-to-market trackside vehicles are just some of the innovations IXO will bring to consumers.

“IXO has shown a commitment to quality and listening to customer feedback through its diecast models from many series around the globe,” INDYCAR Director, Events & Experiences Alexis Hurley said. “We know fans around the world will love the attention to detail of IXO products as more and more models roll out next year and beyond.”

The multiyear agreement marks a significant milestone for IXO. With over 25 years of diecast manufacturing experience, the brand is known for its meticulous attention to detail, superior craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to quality. IXO’s global presence and expertise in motorsports diecast will expand the reach of INDYCAR to diecast collectors and racing fans around the world.

“We are beyond excited to partner with INDYCAR and bring these incredible racing machines to life in diecast form,” said Jeff Nelson, vice president of sales for IXO America.

“Our team is passionate about delivering the highest-quality replica models, and we can’t wait for fans to experience the thrill of owning a piece of INDYCAR history.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in the diecast model industry. IXO America has roots in ownership and design right here in Indianapolis, so our enthusiasm for INDYCAR is unparalleled in the market.”

Fans should stay tuned to both IXO Models and INDYCAR social media channels and websites for the latest updates. For more information about IXO Models, visit www.ixomodels.com. 

Nashville Superspeedway- A Brief Indycar History

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The permanent track with the briefest history of any on the Indycar circuit will make history next weekend when a three time IndyCar champion is determined. Either Alex Palou or Will Power will win their third title September 15.

Nashville Superspeedway has a strange, twisted history. The track was built in hopes of attracting a NASCAR Cup race, but the delays in its construction and the new tracks at Kansas and Chicagoland diminished those dreams. The addition of a Cup race at Kentucky Speedway killed any hope Nashville Superspeedway ever having a place on the NASCAR Cup schedule. It hosted its first race in 2001, then closed in 2011 because of poos attendance and deterioration of the facility. The track returned in 2021. IndyCar ran at Nashville from 2001-2008, Negotiations to renew the race for 2009 and beyond failed to reach an agreement

The series returns only as an alternative to the Nashville street circuit, which is not feasible because of construction of the new Tennessee Titans football stadium. Whether Indycar ever returns to the streets of Nashville is yet to be determined, but it won’t be until 2027 at the earliest.

Buddy Lazier won the first IRL race at Nashville. Greg Ray sat on the pole for the race. Scott Dixon won the last three races at the track, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Dixon also has two poles and is the only winner to start from the pole. He also has a second place result at Nashville. The lowest starting spot for a race winner is 6th, when Buddy Lazier won the inaugural event in 2001.

Indycar winners at Nashville Superspeedway

2008 Scott Dixon (148.072)

2007 Scott Dixon (164.030)

006 Scott Dixon (161.205)

 2005 Dario Franchitti (133.089)

2004 Tony Kanaan (134.975)

2003 Gil de Ferran (137.679))\

2002 Alex Barron (127.997

2001 Buddy Lazier (144.809)

Milwaukee Wrap Up-Indycar Can Go Home Again

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Indycar’s return to Milwaukee- and its racing roots- turned out be the perfect mix of great crowds, great racing, and great weather. The leadup to the race was filled with concerns on all fronts, but as the Friday morning rain and clouds cleared, so did the worries about what was in store.

I had some indication that attendance would be better than expected on Friday when I got caught in the garage pass redemption line which went about halfway into the tunnel. It reminded of the Legends’ Day autograph line at IMS. Perhaps the organizers can find a spot behind the grandstands or have multiple points for distributing wristbands like some other tracks do.

The upper deck was very near capacity on Saturday while the lower sections did not seem that full. On Sunday the upper deck was about 90% of Saturday’s crowd, but the lower decks looked significantly fuller. I wonder if Saturday’s race brought some folks out who hadn’t considered coming.

Everyone seemed to have a great time, and it was a race crowd. They were on their feet for restarts, and when there were passes for the lead.

One thing I would like to see added for 2025 is a scoring pylon. The promoters had three video boards on the front stretch, well spaced so that every fan had access , but the angle of the sun made them hard to see for most of yesterday.

Short Track Racing- More, Please

Saturday and Sunday were examples of the best of short track racing. Both races, while completely different in tone and style, featured the best elements of the sport. Early contenders faded while others found the right combination and put themselves in the mix. Favorites had issues and dropped out. The winner was in doubt until the final handful of laps. A race fan can’t ask for more.

Notes

Kudos to Firestone and Indycar for figuring out the oval package after the debacle at Iowa.

I wish Milwaukee had the double header slot on future calendars, and Iowa went back to a single race.

Will Power’s spin may have cost him his shot at the title. He gained only 10 points on Alex Palou on a day when he could have grabbed the lead. Palou needs only to finish ninth or better at Nashville to clinch his second consecutive crown.

The two podiums had six different drivers representing five different teams, including a first time podium for Juncos Hollinger Racing.

Pato O’Ward broke the Team Penske oval winning streak Saturday, but Scott McLaughlin got them back on track yesterday.

I hope the momentum from this past weekend carries over to the season finale in Nashville i9n two weeks’ time. There is an actual title fight happening this year, and I am ready for it.