Alex Palou won the NTT IndyCar Series race, the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superpseedway. This is his fifth win on the 2026 season, and the Spaniard’s first win at Nashville.
The Team Penske duo of Josef Newgarden and David Malukas stood with Palou on the podium. This race, postponed from Sunday evening, was decided by two decisive cautions. First, on Lap 123 for Alexander Rossi and Scott Dixon. Malukas, who was forced to start last due to a wreck in practice, went on an alternate three-stop strategy to make up positions. This strategy worked wonders, as the American looked in contention to win before the caution came out following his second pit stop.
This is the caution that cycled Palou up front, and set up a battle with him and the third Penske driver, Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin pit earlier then Palou to attempt an undercut, then another caution came out for Dennis Hauger. This was the final caution, the final restart allowed Palou to secure the lead and ultimately the win.
Rest of the Race
Kyle Kirkwood and Newgarden battled hard for the lead in the opening laps. Kirkwood settled into the lead before the first caution came out on Lap 19 for rookie contender Caio Collet hitting the wall. All but three drivers pit following this, with Louis Foster, Malukas, and Christian Lundgaard staying out. From there, McLaughlin, Kirkwood, Palou, and Newgarden led the race off pit road.
The green flag waved on Lap 31, with Malukas battling to the lead. Despite being on 20 lap older tires, Malukas was the fastest car on track during this stint of the race and remained fastest until arriving behind Graham Rahal. Lap 60 saw Malukas pit, with his Penske teammate in the No. 3 inheriting the lead. The drivers on the four-stop strategy began pitting at Lap 79, with Rinus VeeKay being the first of the group. McLaughlin pit from the lead on Lap 82, falling behind Malukas. The cycle ended on Lap 89, with Malukas leading McLaughlin, Kirkwood, VeeKay, and Palou.
Results
| Position | Driver | Team |
| 1 | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 3 | David Malukus | Team Penske |
| 4 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske |
| 5 | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank w/ Curb-Agajanian |
| 6 | Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Global |
| 7 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren |
| 8 | Mick Schumacher | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 9 | Kyffin Simpson | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 10 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global |
| 11 | Nolan Siegel | Arrow McLaren |
| 12 | Rinus VeeKay | Juncos Hollinger Racing |
| 13 | Santino Ferrucci | A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
| 14 | Romain Grosjean | Dale Coyne Racing |
| 15 | Sting Ray Robb | Juncos Hollinger Racing |
| 16 | Christian Lundgaard | Arrow McLaren |
| 17 | Louis Foster | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 18 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 19 | Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 20 | Will Power | Andretti Global |
| 21 | Dennis Hauger ® | Dale Coyne Racing |
| 22 | Christian Rasmussen | ECR |
| 23 | Alexander Rossi | ECR |
| 24 | Marcus Armstrong | Meyer Shank w/ Curb-Agajanian |
| 25 | Ciao Collet | A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
