Dixon wins IndyCar Music City GP race
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was more of the same Sunday for the second annual IndyCar Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, which was filled again with wrecks, mishaps and caution flags.
Chaos ruled the day even after organizers attempted to improve the unique 2.17-mile track hoping for a cleaner race.
After nearly a two-hour weather delay, six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon handled the drama the best and won the 80-lap race on the streets of downtown Nashville.
Dixon, who started 14th, came from near the back of the pack and led the final 15 laps. He moved to second in the points standings behind Will Power.
The victory also moved Dixon to second all time in IndyCar wins with 53. He passed Mario Andretti, who had 52 wins, and trails A.J. Foyt with 67.
Pole winner Scott McLaughlin pushed Dixon at the finish line before finishing second. It was the fourth-closest margin of victory in IndyCar road coarse series history at 0.1067 seconds.
Alex Palou was third, followed by Alexander Rossi fourth and Colton Herta fifth.
Hometown favorite Josef Newgarden finished sixth. He led 12 laps before having to pit for tires on lap 65.
Newgarden passed three cars on a late restart but also pushed Romain Grosjean into the wall, causing the last caution flag.
The 2021 race had six wrecks, nine caution flags, 33 laps run under caution and two red flags. Sunday’s race had eight wrecks, eight caution flags, 36 laps run under caution and one red flag, which came with four laps left.
Ten cars were knocked out of the race including Pato O’Ward, who was fourth in the IndyCar standings.
“It’s a track that you don’t really get much opportunities so you have to go for it when you get the chance,” Palou said. “It’s not like you can wait for an opportunity to pass cleanly.”
The 2021 Music City Grand Prix winner, Marcus Ericsson, was among the crash victims. He pulled out while running 11th with five laps left.
Along with Newgarden and Dixon, lap leaders included Alex Palou (31), and McLaughlin (22).