LEBANON — Alex Palou beat the warmth and the competitors on his strategy to claiming the IndyCar Nashville on July 20 at . It was his twenty third profession win and fifth in 2026.
The sixth annual race was on July 19, and the variety of laps was diminished to the acute warmth. The observe temperature in the beginning of the race was 117 levels.
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“I am pleased,” Palou mentioned. “I imply, I am drained. The warmth was very dangerous. As soon as I received out of the automobile, I sort of felt it.”
has gained 4 of the previous 5 IndyCar championships however had by no means gained the Music Metropolis Grand Prix. He was the runner-up in 2025.
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood (27) fits up throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood (27) fits up throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood (27) earns the pole place throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood (27) waits for his flip throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood places his sticker on his automobile after incomes the pole place throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood places his sticker on his automobile after incomes the pole place throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Kyle Kirkwood places his sticker on his automobile after incomes the pole place throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) prepares for qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) drives throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) prepares for qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Mick Schumacher (47) fits up throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Scott McLaughlin (3) drives throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) will get in his automobile throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Alex Palou (10) fits up throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) prepares for qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Caio Collet (4) fits up throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) fits up throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Scott Dixon (9) drives throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Josef Newgarden (2) heads to his automobile throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Alex Palou (10) drives throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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IndyCar Nashville race: Finest photographs from Music Metropolis Grand Prix weekend
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Alex Palou (10) will get in his automobile throughout qualification for the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, July 18, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
INDYCAR NASHVILLE RACE RESULTS:
Alex Palou lastly will get customized guitar trophy
Palou was particularly happy about successful the customized Gibson guitar trophy that goes to the Music Metropolis Grand Prix winner. He has wished one for some time.
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He clinched his fourth IndyCar championship at Nashville in 2025, however didn’t obtain the guitar trophy as a result of Nashville resident Josef Newgarden gained the race.
“I assumed I used to be going to get a guitar final yr,” Palou mentioned. “The day after, (race sponsor) Scott Borchetta heard I wished one and took me to his studio and gave me one, which was very good of him. This one is cooler. It is not cooler, nevertheless it means extra as a result of I earned this one.”
Alex Palou will get first win since Might
It was additionally Palou’s first win since claiming the Grand Prix of Detroit on Might 31, and his first time ending within the top-3 previously 4 races.
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Newgarden was second, and David Malukas was third. Pole setter Kyle Kirkwood completed tenth.
Palou is effectively on his strategy to successful one other IndyCar championship. He leads the standings with 457 factors, forward of Malukas (374) and Kirkwood (370). Newgarden is sixth with 310.
NTT IndyCar Sequence driver Alex Palou celebrates successful the Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Monday, July 20, 2026.
Palou led 97 laps and held off Newgarden and Malukas after the ultimate restart with 31 laps to go.
“Individuals thought (Palou) was going to run away with the championship early on within the season, nevertheless it’s modified a little bit bit,” mentioned Malukas, who hung out within the hospital after crashing on July 18. “I am glad I used to be in a position to get better and do fairly effectively on this one with all of the help that I had. So we’ll see what occurs. Possibly it can come right down to the top.”
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Josef Newgarden was near repeating as IndyCar Nashville champion
Palou beat Newgarden by 0.8731 seconds. As shut as he was, although, Newgarden by no means threatened after the ultimate restart.
Newgarden is and sporting a strolling boot besides when he races on account of injuring his left foot in a crash within the Indy 500 in Might. on account of his crash in observe.
Palou mentioned that gave him an edge on the finish.
“David was injured and Josef as effectively,” Palou mentioned. “If that does not occur, it would not finish like this. I used to be a bit nervous on the finish to get into some site visitors as a result of that is when Josef sort of shines and has been greatest the final seasons.”
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Newgarden complained in regards to the warmth on his radio early within the race, however would have preferred for it to have been longer on the finish when he was chasing Palou.
“We simply wanted extra laps,” Newgarden mentioned. “It’s what it’s. I received blocked a few occasions, we misplaced observe place a few occasions. It is racing. Typically it goes your means, generally it would not.”
