Josef Newgarden held off Alex Palou in a tense late-race finish to win the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway, as the IndyCar season rolled to its close on August 31.
Newgarden took the lead in the closing stretch after Scott McLaughlin nearly crashed in turn 1 with 21 laps remaining, triggering a restart that he would protect over Palou in the final laps. The victory was Newgarden’s first of the season and marked the 11th straight year he has won at least one race, a run dating back to 2015. The win also comes amid a challenging season for the Penske driver, who entered the final race 16th in the standings.
The race was eventful from the start. Pato O’Ward dominated early on before crashing with fewer than 100 laps to go, reshaping the race’s dynamic for the leaders. Will Power briefly moved into position to capitalize, but a pit stop exceeding 30 seconds left him down a lap.
In the middle stretch, Newgarden’s strategy and track position played a key role. He surged to the lead on lap 147 and, after an earlier stop for hard-compound tires, found himself in contention again as Palou traded the top spot with McLaughlin and O’Ward amid heavy traffic.
The action intensified in the late stages. On lap 199, McLaughlin briefly slipped ahead of Palou, only for Newgarden to slip back into second before catching the lead again. Palou reclaimed the front on a later run, with Newgarden and others pressing hard as lap traffic complicated the fight for position.
The day’s drama extended beyond the track surface. David Malukas was taken by helicopter to a hospital for precautionary evaluation and advanced imaging, though IndyCar medical officials later said he was in good spirits. Will Power also endured a long, trouble-plagued pit stop after an early overshoot.
By lap 220, Newgarden had a precarious lead over Palou, but the defending champion could not quite reel him in as the checkered flag approached. Newgarden crossed the line about half a second ahead of Palou to claim victory in his hometown race, a result that clearly resonated in Nashville.
The day also featured a strong showing for Penske’s other drivers. Will Power recovered from the earlier complications to climb toward the front, and Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden again showed the strength of a two-Penske battle for the win. The top 10 on the day highlighted the mix of veteran and rising talent in IndyCar’s 2025 season finale.
Race organizers and broadcasters marked the event as a pivotal closer to the season, with Nashville’s 1.33-mile concrete oval delivering a 225-lap, 299.25-mile duel that captured the fast pace and high-stakes strategy the series is known for. The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix was carried nationally on FOX, with radio coverage from the IndyCar Radio Network and streaming options for fans.
Summary:
– Josef Newgarden won the Music City Grand Prix at Nashville, surviving a late restart to beat Alex Palou by about half a second.
– The victory gave Newgarden his first win of the season and extended his streak of at least one win per year to 11 seasons.
– The race featured dramatic moments, including Pato O’Ward’s late crash, Scott McLaughlin’s near-crash, and a precautionary hospital evaluation for David Malukas.
– Nashville’s event closed the IndyCar season on a high note, with strong performances from Penske and the series’ top contenders.
Short takeaway:
Newgarden’s Nashville win provided a hometown triumph that caps a challenging year with a positive note, offering momentum and confirmation of his enduring competitiveness as IndyCar heads into the offseason.
If you’d like, I can add a concise video recap, notable quotes from the teams, or a quick playoff implications sidebar to complement this rewrite.