Round 13: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, Nashville, Tennessee. August 04--06.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 13: Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, Nashville, Tennessee. August 04--06.

This will be the third running of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville. Track activity starts on Friday with Practice 1 but the event gets underway tomorrow, with FanFest on Broadway, which features The Pit Stop Challenge that takes place in downtown Nashville.

https://www.indycar.com/News/2023/07...e-PitChallenge


History
In 2021 Nashville, the music capital of Country and Western, hosted the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. After three years of negotiations between Nashville sports and tourism officials and IndyCar series executives, which previously had resulted in three failed proposals to hold the race, it was announced on September 16, 2020, the NTT IndyCar Series would add the Music City Grand Prix to the 2021 calendar.

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix marked the return of IndyCar to Nashville since the Indy 200, which was held at Nashville Superspeedway between 2001 and 2008. It was also the first new street race for the IndyCar Series, since the Grand Prix of Houston in 2013.

The race was won by Marcus Ericsson, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, however it was marred by 9 caution periods, totaling 33 laps and 2 red flags. Last year's race wasn't much different, with 9 caution periods, totaling 36 laps and 1red flag. There was also a big delay to the start of the race, which was scheduled for 3:30 PM ET, due to lightning in the area. The race didn't start until 5:13 PM ET.

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Track Layout
The track layout was designed by former IndyCar Project Manager Tony Cotnam and is highlighted by and features the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, which is used as the main straightaway, going in both directions. It is 3,578 feet (1,091 m) long, longer than the straightaway at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track also varies in width, from a minimum of 37 feet (11 m) to a maximum of 80 feet (24 m).

Like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the Nashville Street Circuit uses a different location for the start of the race and the finish line (between Turns 3 and 4). Former Formula One drivers Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson, have compared the Nashville Street Circuit to the Baku City Circuit that hosts the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.



Length: 2.17 miles (3.49 km)
Turns: 11

Lap record:
Colton Herta, 1:13.6835. 102.601 mph (165.120 km/h)
Andretti Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian.
Dallara IR18-Honda HI21R Indy-V-6

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Last year's race
https://www.indycar.com/news/2022/08...ille-nics-race

Pole
Scott McLaughlin,
Team Penske
Dallara IR18-Chevrolet Indy V6.

Winner
Scott Dixon,
Chip Ganassi Racing
Dallara IR18-HI22TT Indy V6

Laps: 80
Distance: 173.6 Miles (279.38 Km)
Race Time: 2:06:24.2439
Average Speed: 79.744 Mph (128.335 Km/h)
Fastest lap: Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Lap 48. 75.7491 sec. 99.803 Mph (160.617 Km/h)

Cautions: 8
Laps: 8 - 10, 22 - 24, 34 - 40, 52 - 55, 64 - 69, 73 - 75, 76 - 78.
Red flags: 1
Laps: 78.

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Practice and Qualifications

Practice 1
Friday, Aug 4
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM ET

Practice 2
Saturday, Aug 5
11:40 AM - 12:40 PM ET

Qualifications - Round 1 Group 1
Saturday, Aug 5
2:45 PM - 2:55 PM ET

Qualifications - Round 1 Group 2
Saturday, Aug 5
3:10 PM - 3:20 PM ET

Qualifications - Round 2
Saturday, Aug 5
3:35 PM - 3:45 PM ET

Qualifications - Firestone Fast 6
Saturday, Aug 5
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET

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TV Coverage:
Sunday, Aug 6
NBC: 12:00pm ET, 4:00 PM UTC
Sky Sports F1, 5:00 PM BST

[NaBUru38]

I know that team owners don't like the carnage at Nashville, but as a fan I have enjoyed the races (other than long red flags).

[joeb]

I gotta say it is neat to go over the bridge. This is also expected to be the last Nashville race with this layout.

Wish this race didn't overlap with the Road America IMSA race, but I know some of these clashes are unavoidable.

[bjohnsonsmith]

According to IndyStar, there will be an announcement about next year's race tomorrow.


https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports...e/70471756007/

[broadrun96]

It's confirmed as the finale next year, host of awards banquet and party time each evening. New layout is more Nashville than Titans

https://racer.com/2023/08/03/indycar...season-finale/


Interesting lap, pit time will be high relative on track with it being across the bridge in the hairpin before they go back. Think it could be cleaner racing with a few corners but maybe lot less passing chances

[joeb]

Practice one has started, and I love how creative IndyCar has been with all of the pit lane configurations on street courses. Not just a straight line!

[bjohnsonsmith]

The pit lane on the new Nashvile circuit is somewhat convoluted. I've never seen a pit lane that goes back on itself.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The pit lane on the new Nashvile circuit is somewhat convoluted. I've never seen a pit lane that goes back on itself.

We had one for the first two Formula E meetings at Battersea Park:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London...rk_Circuit.svg

The pit lane speed limit line was just before the first of the right turns, watching the cars barrel down there full tilt was quite something!

[joeb]

Power topped opening practice, but Linus impressed in 11th!

https://racer.com/2023/08/04/power-t...e-minor-shunt/

[fergus_r]

And rain is ruining play in second practice. No running yet.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by fergus_r

And rain is ruining play in second practice. No running yet.

Unfortunate, I don't think there is rain predicted for the race, so I wouldn't risk it either. The question comes up for qualifying later today. Rain might still be falling or at least damp track. There is another practice later this afternoon, so Indycar has opportunity to adjust schedule.

[broadrun96]

Looks like radar says it's raining, feed starts shortly

Yeah it's a bit damp. But their radar looks like it's moving on. Thankfully Peacock updated so I can run IMSA on my iPad and Indy on my phone minimized and have Tenths too

Yup, delayed with no info when so that's nice

[v8supes]

Why can’t they run in this?

[v8supes]

3 hour delay for qualifying 18:15 start time.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Why can’t they run in this?

City streets and southern rain ain't good for anything other than demolition, it's just a wasted ice rink slick time on track doing 40 everywhere. Oh, and this thing called lightning, wunderground had a lighting alert up through 315 so no corner workers

[bjohnsonsmith]

Qualifying moved to 6:15 PM ET.

https://www.indycar.com/news/2023/08...nics-practice2

[v8supes]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

City streets and southern rain ain't good for anything other than demolition, it's just a wasted ice rink slick time on track doing 40 everywhere. Oh, and this thing called lightning, wunderground had a lighting alert up through 315 so no corner workers

Yeah, i wasn't aware of the lightning delay because here in the UK we were only being sent the live feed of a stationary track camera so no info.

[broadrun96]

It went away right when I looked so wonder if it was cancelled but the forecast they were looking at was worse. It looked to be clearing but a few pictures I've seen were underwater in the corners and decent rain to start the day. NXT quali cancelled and their race could be a mess, looks like rain possible early tomorrow but done before the race. And given how slick Atlanta roads get in summer rain I would want that cleaned better than an actual race course, the pavement just oozes oils and all the garbage dripping from cars.

And I just looked at the most recent, chance of thunderstorms again at 7 so.... And chance of storms tomorrow afternoon instead of the morning

[fergus_r]

It's bone dry for the Trans Am race right now.

[broadrun96]

It didn't help and you can tell it's dry but not great. Multiple rear lit up and not just cause TA2 cars. And then the blind corner mess

[broadrun96]

First time I recall seeing Ticket Clinic ads not on YT car shows. Think the first I saw it my first thought was Dollar General has a corner for Indy?

[broadrun96]

Lundqvist doing well so far, been in the lower half of T6 of Group 1 but alternates getting faster late. Malukas knocked Linus out but last lap strike and he made it. And everyone on after checkers is slower so he'll make it to next round, knocked out Lundgaard

[broadrun96]

Sting Ray to 4th. Ok, he went alternate earlier and falling but he was 4th

[broadrun96]

Track getting quicker, everyone advancing in G2 faster than P2 time of G1 I think

[broadrun96]

Dixie bangs inside wall of T11 with 18 seconds left to bring out red. Will they let them get 1 flyer at the end

And yes, they're letting everyone get one flyer. And Malukas might lose his fastest, possible yellow corner on his fastest lap