Nobody knew what to expect with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at the Nashville Superspeedway and after 206 laps of action, it was clear the 1.33-mile concrete oval had some fun to offer as six drivers led, and when it mattered in the final laps, Colton Herta pulled off a daring pass to win his “home” race.
Herta — a California transplant who lives in Nashville — got by Pato O’Ward on the 203rd lap to clinch his first oval victory and rocket to second in the championship for Andretti Global behind the newly-crowned Alex Palou from Chip Ganassi Racing. Herta drove the No. 26 Honda to a 1.8s margin of victory over the Arrow McLaren driver and 1.9s over Tennessee native Josef Newgarden from Team Penske.
“The whole race, I was getting all my passing done off of the corners, really able to drive middle to exit of the corner, get the power down really nicely,” Herta said of the dive to the left he made coming off of Turn 2 as he and O’Ward split the lapped car of Sting Ray Robb.
That’s some good #INDYCAR 🍿
📺: #MusicCityGP on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/hzljyOLsw4
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 15, 2024
“And that was just what that was; you’re showing it off. Luckily we had just enough room between me and Sting Ray. There might have been a small nudge there, but I had to use every bit of them to accelerate onto the straight. Thanks to everybody involved this year. It’s been an amazing year. You know, I just saw on the screen there that I’m second in the championship, which is awesome, but yeah, hoping to do a little bit better next year.”
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Newgarden’s teammate Will Power, the only championship contender with a shot at beating Palou, had his hopes dashed on the 12th lap when his racing harness — the lap belts — detached and forced him to pit lane where five laps were lost while they were re-attached.
From there, Palou continued to race hard and improved from the 24th-place starting position to 11th to clinch back-to-back titles and his third since 2021. Power, who pushed when he could but also drove with class — never hindering the leaders or Palou — ended up 24th, eight laps down to Herta. Power also visited Palou in victory lane as the championship celebrations were beginning to congratulate Palou and the Ganassi team.
In the race for the final Leaders Circle spot, Ed Carpenter Racing and Christian Rasmussen vanquished AJ Foyt Racing and Robb to secure 22nd in the Entrants’ championship to earn a $1 million prize money payout in 2025. Robb was leading Rasmussen for a decent portion of the race, but having woken up with food poisoning, the Idahoan was dealing with adversity throughout.
Now it’s time to head into a long offseason where driver changes aplenty, sponsor changes, and team evolutions will take place. Buckle in — it’s five months and 17 days until the next IndyCar race.
AS IT HAPPENED
Kyle Kirkwood led from pole as Josef Newgarden tried to take the lead on the high line in the opening laps.
Palou was up from P24 to P20 within three laps while Power was up to P3 from P4. He dropped back to P5 two laps later as Palou shot up to P17 on alternates. One more lap and Power, on alternates, sunk down to P6.
Lap 10 and Kirkwood settled into the lead with 1.4s over Newgarden. Felix Rosenqvist ran P3, 1.7s back. Power again slid down to P8 on lap 11 and Palou went by Scott McLaughlin for P14.
Power pitted on lap 12. His lap belt was undone. Lap 17 and he finally returned to the race, five laps down.
Lap 22 and Palou was up to P12.
Newgarden was closing on P1 by lap 33, 0.4s behind Kirkwood. Rosenqvist ran 1.7s back.
Lap 35 and Palou remained P12 while Power was P27 and last, six laps down.
Kirkwood stretched his lead to 0.9s ahead of Newgarden on lap 43. Palou was up to P9 before pitting for primaries on lap 49.
On lap 52 Kirkwood still led with 0.5s on Newgarden and 1.0s over Rosenqvist. The leading Andretti car pitted for alternates on lap 54.
Lap 56 and Rosenqvist got into the wall. Caution. He says the right-front tire blew. The yellow could pin some who pitted down at least one lap.
The leaders pit on lap 60. Newgarden ran P1 ahead of Herta, David Malukas, Marcus Ericsson, Linus Lundqvist and Santino Ferrucci.
Only the top 13 were on the lead lap by lap 63, with O’Ward in P13. Palou was a lap down in P15. Herta moved to second in the championship with McLaughlin in third, Power down to fourth.
Green flew again on lap 68. Herta was trying to take P1 on the high lane as they came back around to complete the lap.
Lap 73 and Palou fell back to P17. Power was now P26.
Newgarden was managing the pressure from Herta who was 0.3s behind on lap 85. Malukas was dropping fast, down 2.7s in P3.
Lap 89 and caution flew for Katherine Legge who hit the wall off of Turn 4. The leaders pit on lap 92. Newgarden was out first with Malukas behind him. Ericsson shot up to P3 and Herta sunk back to P4. Alexander Rossi stayed out and held the lead with Newgarden in P2.
Green flew again at lap 99.
Lap 101 and Herta was up to P3 as Newgarden sat 1.1s back from Rossi.
Ferrucci was instructed to give P7 back to Kirkwood after making the pass below the while line on lap 107.
Lap 125 and Rossi pits under green. One lap later Newgarden led and had 0.9s over Herta with Malukas 2.4s back. Palou was up to P13, the first driver a lap down. If there would be another caution, he’d get back on the lead lap. Power ran P25, five laps in arrears.
On lap 135 Ericsson slid up into the wall, causing the third caution of the day. The field pits on lap 140, except for Palou, who stayed out to get his lap back.
Green again at lap 146 and O’Ward led, having stayed out.
Lap 152 and Herta takes P2 from Malukas. Ten laps later O’Ward pitted and resumed in P12. Herta assumed the lead.
By lap 167, Herta held 6.7s over Malukas.
Kirkwood took P2 from Malukas on lap 173; he was 4.5s behind Herta.
Lap 178 and former leader Newgarden sunk to P11. By lap 192 Herta was down a lap in P6 after pitting. Kirkwood led with 7.6s over Malukas before pitting on lap 195.
Malukas pitted from the lead on lap 201. It was O’Ward vs. Herta for victory.
Lap 203 and Herta slid by O’Ward. Lap 206 and Herta took his first oval race win and Palou, his third championship.