Josef Newgarden, a Nashville native, finally broke his winless streak with a dramatic victory at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix, held at Nashville Superspeedway. This win marks his first of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season and the 32nd of his career.
Newgarden, driving the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, managed to hold off a strong challenge from reigning series champion Alex Palou in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou, despite finishing second, celebrated a remarkable season, securing his third consecutive Astor Challenge Cup. The final margin was a mere .5021 of a second.
"Glad we got one without anything going wrong," Newgarden said, expressing relief and gratitude. "Happy to celebrate this team. They deserve it. It’s rewarding for our team. Tough, tough year, but good to get a win at the end.”
Scott McLaughlin, also from Team Penske, secured third place after a captivating battle with Kyffin Simpson. This marked only the second time this season that Team Penske placed two drivers on the podium, highlighting their dominance in INDYCAR SERIES history.
The race was filled with drama, including an incident involving Pato O'Ward, who crashed while leading. Will Power also faced setbacks due to a lengthy pit stop. A late-race caution was triggered when McLaughlin nearly crashed, adding to the tension.
Key Moments of the Race:
- Newgarden's dominant performance in the closing laps.
- Palou's strong challenge for the lead.
- McLaughlin's impressive third-place finish.
- O'Ward's crash while leading.
Rookie of the Year
Louis Foster secured the Rookie of the Year honors, edging out Robert Shwartzman by a narrow margin of just two points. This was a significant accomplishment for Foster in his debut season.
This victory provides a much-needed boost for Newgarden after a challenging season. The Music City Grand Prix proved to be a thrilling conclusion to the INDYCAR season, showcasing intense competition and dramatic moments.