Rain Forces Grand Prix Delay
Heavy Rain Forces Music City Grand Prix Postponement to Monday Afternoon
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Key Points
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Broadcast plan: FOX, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls will broadcast the 225-lap race live from Nashville.
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Flash Flood Warnings were issued for parts of Middle Tennessee as rain and storms continued to influence the schedule.
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Vintage Indy will participate for a third consecutive year in the Borchetta Music City Grand Prix, marking the sixth year of the Vintage Indy partnership.
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Sunday’s delays included a lightning hold, near-dry track conditions after jet-dryer efforts, and a heavy rain around 8 p.m. CT that ultimately pushed the race to Monday.
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Marcus Ericsson, of Andretti Global, said the night race could be spectacular and that he would be running up high to make it work: 'Getting this to be a night race is going to be spectacular... I’m going to be running up high and make that work. It’s going to be a great race track and being a night race will be another level.'
The Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway will not run until Monday after heavy rain and lightning forced IndyCar officials to push the race off Sunday's schedule entirely. The green flag is now set for around 2-3 p.m. local time Monday, according to Nashville Superspeedway and Sun Herald.
Flash Flood Warnings were issued across parts of Middle Tennessee on Sunday. Jet dryers worked to clear the track, but a heavy rain hit around 8 p.m. CT and ended any hope of racing that night, WIBC reported.
Sunday Rain, Lightning, and a Long Night of Waiting
IndyCar teams sat in the paddock for hours as officials tried to save the race. There was a lightning hold first. Then crews ran jet dryers to dry the track. Conditions looked close to racing-ready for a stretch. Then, around 8 p.m. CT, another round of heavy rain ended the night, according to WIBC.
The delay also came on a night when the World Cup final had already pushed the original start time back. FOX was broadcasting the soccer match before the race. A potential U.S. team run in extra time added more time pressure to an already tight schedule, Head Top Topics noted.
Kirkwood on Pole as 25-Car Field Awaits Monday Start
Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood won the pole position. He will lead all 25 cars to the green flag when the race finally begins. The 225-lap race covers 399.5 miles around Nashville Superspeedway, per Nashville Superspeedway.
This is the 12th race of the IndyCar season. FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls will all carry the race live. The broadcast setup stays the same — only the day changed, Nashville Superspeedway confirmed.
Ericsson Thinks a Night Race Could Be Spectacular
Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson was upbeat about the new timing. He said racing at night could lift the whole event. "Getting this to be a night race is going to be spectacular," Ericsson said. "I'm going to be running up high and make that work. It's going to be a great race track and being a night race will be another level."
With a Monday afternoon start, part of the race could stretch into evening hours under the lights. IndyCar officials also stayed hopeful that the rescheduled event would deliver a strong atmosphere for fans and TV viewers alike, according to Nashville Superspeedway.
Vintage Indy Returns for Third Straight Year at Nashville
The postponement did not change everything on the weekend's program. Vintage Indy is taking part in the Borchetta Music City Grand Prix for the third year in a row. This marks the sixth year overall of the Vintage Indy partnership with the event, Nashville Superspeedway noted.
Classic cars and racing history are part of what makes the Nashville event stand out beyond the main IndyCar race. Even with the rain disruption, organizers aimed to keep as much of the full weekend experience intact as possible for fans who made the trip.
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