The city of Nashville, Tennessee is gearing up to welcome the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone back to the heart of “Music City” this weekend, August 4-6, for the Music City Grand Prix. Returning, HMD Motorsports will once again bring a field of eight INDY NXT by Firestone Drivers and David Malukas in the Dale Coyne Racing with HMD NTT INDYCAR SERIES program. The final street course of the season for both series, the 2.17-mile track encompasses iconic landmarks in Nashville, including the streets of downtown, Nissan Stadium, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge as drivers race above the Cumberland River.
Leading the HMD Motorsports INDY NXT team will be Christian Rasmussen and Nolan Siegel who are currently sitting first and second in the Championship after each claiming two wins so far this season. Returning to the Nashville street circuit will be Christian Bogle, Kyffin Simpson, Danial Frost, and Ernie Francis, Jr. who all raced in last year’s inaugural INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix. As the feeder series of USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 does not race on the circuit, this will be Nolan Siegel, Josh Pierson, and Reece Gold’s first trip to the 11-turn circuit. As defending pole and race winners in 2022 with Linus Lundqvist, HMD Motorsports will be looking to go two-for-two in Music City.
After an incredibly impressive race last season, David Malukas will be on the hunt for redemption this weekend in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. After qualifying seventh and running in the top-ten throughout the race and battling for sixth with 18 laps to go, David Malukas was wrecked by a fellow competitor and retired from the race. Though the results do not show it, Malukas had a strong pace and will be looking to return in the same form.
With the season finale coming into view, INDY NXT by Firestone has six races remaining while the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is entering its final five events. In the INDY NXT championship standings, HMD Motorsports has six of seven full-time drivers in the top-ten in points after claiming six wins this season.
As the city of Nashville hosts a weekend-long event of music, food, and racing, INDY NXT by Firestone and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will run in succession of each other all weekend. With just one practice session each on Friday afternoon, the action will kick into high gear on Saturday with five practice and qualifying sessions between the two series. The exciting weekend will culminate on Sunday with the INDY NXT by Firestone field taking the green flag at 9:15 AM followed immediately by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at 11:30 AM CDT.
Weekend Schedule · Streets of Nashville *All times CDT
Friday, August 4
1:55pm – 2:40pm INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1
3:00pm – 4:15pm NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
Saturday, August 5
9:35am – 10:20am INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2
10:40am – 11:40am NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2
1:05pm – 1:25pm INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying
1:45pm – 3:15pm NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying
5:25pm – 5:55pm NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice
Sunday, August 6
9:10am – 10:10am INDY NXT by Firestone Race, 35 Laps
11:00am – 2:00pm NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race, 80 Laps
Photo: Penske Entertainment
