By: Spencer Neff
September 14, 2024
The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season draws to a close this weekend at the Nashville Superspeedway. For the first time since 2008, INDYCAR returns to the 1.33-mile concrete oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.
After three years on the street course in downtown Nashville, the event moves to the oval 40 minutes east of the Volunteer State’s capital.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou leads Team Penske’s Will Power by 33 points as both drivers look for their third series championship.
Palou must finish ninth or better to guarantee a title. Power’s teammate Scott McLaughlin is mathematically eligible for the championship but would be eliminated once Palou starts the race.
Adding to the intrigue for this race is the implementation of alternate tires for this race by Firestone. It will be just the second time ever that alternate tires will be run on an oval. This time, there will be no requirement for practice or qualifying in regard to primary or alternate tires.
“Firestone has done a phenomenal job with this expanded format,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye. said in last Friday’s announcement.
“It will be interesting to watch how the different strategies play out. We look forward to anamazing race and championship for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at Nashville Superspeedway.
During the race, INDYCAR is mandating that each of the 27 entries use a minimum of two sets of alternate tires and one set of primary tires.
Each stint must be a minimum of two laps, as is the case on road and street courses.
“Our Firestone team rose to the challenge of an extremely short designcycle 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,” noted Cara Krstolic, director, Race Tire Engineering and Production, chief engineer, Firestone.
“Following two tests on the Nashville oval, we worked with INDYCAR to create differentiation intires 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.”
| Fast Facts |
| 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 SERIESUnlimited 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 FirestoneTwo 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.com INDYCAR 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 FirestoneAna 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 FirestoneThiago 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), Peacock 2 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) |
Header Image By James Black, Fast Facts By INDYCAR
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