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With hot and humid conditions in downtown Nashville during an 80-lap race that was remarkable for its lack of yellow flags – which is why it’s called Crashville* by racers – Kyle Kirkwood driving a Honda** won 2023 at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.
There were tire marbles all over the course just off the racing line because of the amount of green flag laps. “It was like going on ice,” said Felix Rosenqvist, (No. 6 Chevrolet) at Arrow McLaren. As a result, the pre-race strategies of all the teams were worthless. Moreover, there was a red flag followed by a three-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Another factor in the sweltering heat was the use of cool suits.
It was the third consecutive win for Honda at Nashville; and its fifth street circuit victory of 2023. Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Chevrolet for Team Penske took second. Alex Palou(No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finished third. He now holds an 84-point drivers’ championship lead with four races remaining:
“We had the speed today,” said Palou. “Before the race, we expected more yellows, and that was not the right call. But hey, we survived and made it work. We were saving a ton of fuel throughout the race, which was tough. But we made it work and we’re on the podium.”
“I really tried my best but just couldn’t get there,” said McLaughlin post-race. “The DEX Imaging Chevy was great, and I’m very proud of everyone. There’s another top-three, another very good points day. We were really hoping to get the win. But, you know, we weren’t best today compared to Alex (Palou) and profs to him.” When asked about cool suits McLaughlin said, “I don’t know the rule exactly. I decide not to wear one because as well I’ve had one fail in Supercars. It was so hot. It was almost hotter than it was. The hardest thing today is yellows and red flags. As soon as you stop, it gets 30 degrees hotter right away, knocks you around a little bit.”
Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Andretti Autosport Honda) the race winner and second career IndyCar victory said, “I have to give it up to the #27 crew – the AutoNation Andretti Honda team. They played everything in my favor, gave me all the tools I needed today. I really only made a couple of passes on-track, they cycled me to the front on strategy and made smart decisions all day… This [second win] definitely feels like some kind of redemption [after crashing out of last year’s race], it’s super cool.”
The NTT IndyCar Series next heads back to Indianapolis for the Gallagher Grand Prix Saturday, 12 August. It will share the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course with the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup series for the racing weekend, Saturday’s race airs live on USA Network at 2:30 pm ET. Additional coverage can be found on Peacock, and through IndyCar Radio and SiriusXM Channel 160.
*Crashville
- 17 cautions the past two years.
- 2023 – four cautions and eight yellow laps.
**Factual Footnotes
- Honda continues to lead the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship, with eight victories and nine poles in 13 races this season. Honda currently has an unofficial 53-point advantage (1,068-1,015) over rival Chevrolet. The company is seeking its fifth NTT IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship in the last six years in 2023.
- Honda drivers and teams have won all five temporary street circuit races on the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series schedule; with Kyle Kirkwood victorious here today and at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach; Marcus Ericsson winning the season-opening race at St. Petersburg; Christian Lundgaard scoring his first win at the Honda Indy Toronto; and Alex Palou winning the Detroit Grand Prix.
Drivers’ Championship
- Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda – 513 points
- Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet – 429
- Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda – 387
- Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Chevrolet – 371
- Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda – 357
Red Hot and Red Flagged – IndyCar at Nashville
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With hot and humid conditions in downtown Nashville during an 80-lap race that was remarkable for its lack of yellow flags – which is why it’s called Crashville* by racers – Kyle Kirkwood driving a Honda** won 2023 at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.
There were tire marbles all over the course just off the racing line because of the amount of green flag laps. “It was like going on ice,” said Felix Rosenqvist, (No. 6 Chevrolet) at Arrow McLaren. As a result, the pre-race strategies of all the teams were worthless. Moreover, there was a red flag followed by a three-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Another factor in the sweltering heat was the use of cool suits.
It was the third consecutive win for Honda at Nashville; and its fifth street circuit victory of 2023. Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Chevrolet for Team Penske took second. Alex Palou(No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finished third. He now holds an 84-point drivers’ championship lead with four races remaining:
“We had the speed today,” said Palou. “Before the race, we expected more yellows, and that was not the right call. But hey, we survived and made it work. We were saving a ton of fuel throughout the race, which was tough. But we made it work and we’re on the podium.”
“I really tried my best but just couldn’t get there,” said McLaughlin post-race. “The DEX Imaging Chevy was great, and I’m very proud of everyone. There’s another top-three, another very good points day. We were really hoping to get the win. But, you know, we weren’t best today compared to Alex (Palou) and profs to him.” When asked about cool suits McLaughlin said, “I don’t know the rule exactly. I decide not to wear one because as well I’ve had one fail in Supercars. It was so hot. It was almost hotter than it was. The hardest thing today is yellows and red flags. As soon as you stop, it gets 30 degrees hotter right away, knocks you around a little bit.”
Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Andretti Autosport Honda) the race winner and second career IndyCar victory said, “I have to give it up to the #27 crew – the AutoNation Andretti Honda team. They played everything in my favor, gave me all the tools I needed today. I really only made a couple of passes on-track, they cycled me to the front on strategy and made smart decisions all day… This [second win] definitely feels like some kind of redemption [after crashing out of last year’s race], it’s super cool.”
The NTT IndyCar Series next heads back to Indianapolis for the Gallagher Grand Prix Saturday, 12 August. It will share the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course with the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup series for the racing weekend, Saturday’s race airs live on USA Network at 2:30 pm ET. Additional coverage can be found on Peacock, and through IndyCar Radio and SiriusXM Channel 160.
*Crashville
**Factual Footnotes
Drivers’ Championship