INDYCAR Goes to Nashville: A Super Simple Guide to the Music City Grand Prix

This weekend, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES (that’s a group of really fast open-wheel race cars) is heading to Nashville Superspeedway for a race called the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix.

But here’s the twist: right before the race, there’s a giant soccer match — the World Cup final — on TV. INDYCAR is planning the race to start right after that big game ends!

Below is everything you need to know, explained like you’re 5 years old.

When Is the Music City Grand Prix? What Time Does It Start?

The race doesn’t have a super exact start time like a school bell.

• INDYCAR is keeping the start flexible (that means movable).
• They want the race to begin as soon as possible after the World Cup final finishes on FOX.
• The race is expected to start around 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19.

Important Point: The green flag (that’s the signal that says “go!”) drops only after soccer’s biggest game of the year is done.

Where Is INDYCAR Nashville?

The race happens at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Here are some easy facts:

• It’s a 1.33-mile D-shaped track made of concrete.
• The track is tilted a little (14 degrees of banking) so cars can go fast around corners.
• This is the 11th INDYCAR race at this track, but only the 3rd since 2008.
• The race is 300 laps (that means going around the track 300 times!), almost 400 miles.
• That makes it the second-longest race of the season, behind the famous Indianapolis 500.

Music City Grand Prix Schedule

Here’s the plan for the weekend. All times are Eastern Time (ET).

Saturday, July 18

• Practice 1: 10 a.m. ET (on FS1) – cars warm up and learn the track
• Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award: 3 p.m. ET (on FOX) – drivers race to see who starts first
• Final Practice: 6 p.m. ET (on FS2) – last chance to practice

Sunday, July 19

1. Pre-race show: 4:30 p.m. ET (on FS1) – fun talking before the race
2. Race: approximately 5:30 p.m. ET (on FOX) – starts right after the World Cup final

How Can I Watch the Music City Grand Prix? What Channel?

The race will be shown live on FOX.

That means if you have a TV with FOX, you can just turn it on and watch the cars go!

How Can I Stream the Music City Grand Prix?

Don’t have a TV? No problem! You can watch on the internet.

You can stream it live using:

• FOX One (FOX’s streaming service)
• FOXSports.com
• The FOX Sports App (an app for your phone or tablet)

Important Point: Every session (practice, qualifying, and race) can be streamed on FOX One.

Why This Race Is a Bigger Deal Than Usual

This year is special for two big reasons:

• The World Cup final might have 40 million or more people watching.
• INDYCAR hopes many of those soccer fans stay tuned to watch the race after the trophy is handed out.
• Last year’s Nashville race had about 1.142 million viewers — the best since 2021. A soccer lead-in could make it even bigger!

Also, on the track:

• Alex Palou is leading the championship by 56 points over Kyle Kirkwood.
• Only Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden (last year’s Nashville winner from Team Penske) have won an INDYCAR race on this oval track.

Summary

• The Music City Grand Prix is at Nashville Superspeedway on July 19.
• The race starts ~5:30 p.m. ET, right after the World Cup final on FOX.
• You can watch on FOX or stream on FOX One, FOXSports.com, or the FOX Sports App.
• It’s a long race (300 laps) and could get a huge audience because of soccer fans.
• Alex Palou is the driver to beat going in.

FAQ

1. What is INDYCAR?
INDYCAR is a type of car racing where very fast, open-wheel cars (like tiny rockets on wheels) race around tracks.

2. Why is the race time not exact?
Because it’s planned to start right after the World Cup soccer final ends, so the time depends on how long that game takes.

3. Do I need cable to watch the race?
No! You can watch on regular TV via FOX, or stream it on FOX One, FOXSports.com, or the FOX Sports App.

4. How long is the Nashville race?
It is 300 laps, which is nearly 400 miles — the second-longest INDYCAR race this year.

5. Who is winning the championship right now?
Alex Palou is in the lead, ahead by 56 points before Nashville.