Samwise IndyCar Newsletter
Monday, July 20, 2026
Nashville Race Postponed to Monday, Shortened to 225 Laps
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix was postponed from Sunday, July 19, to Monday, July 20, after lightning and heavy rain made racing at Nashville Superspeedway impossible. IndyCar officials also shortened the event from the originally scheduled 300 laps to 225 laps, citing a heat index forecast to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday afternoon. The race airs live on FOX beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Kyle Kirkwood, who clocked the fastest qualifying lap at 196.852 mph on Saturday, will lead the field to the start on the 1.33-mile oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Kirkwood Claims Nashville Pole as Rahal Misses Qualifying
Kyle Kirkwood set the fastest lap at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, recording 196.852 mph to claim pole position for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. Josef Newgarden qualified second at 196.642 mph, with Scott McLaughlin third at 196.087 mph and championship leader Alex Palou fourth at 196.050 mph. Scott Dixon completed the top five at 195.802 mph. Graham Rahal was unable to attempt a timed lap after a fuel pressure problem sidelined his car before he could take to the track. Christian Lundgaard, who qualified 17th, will start from the back of the grid after receiving a nine-place engine change penalty.
Firestone Dual Compounds Return, Adding Strategic Complexity to Nashville
Firestone brought two tire compounds to Nashville Superspeedway for Monday’s race, marking the return of an oval tire strategy element. Each driver received seven sets of standard primary tires and five sets of red-banded alternate compound tires. IndyCar rules require teams to use at least one set of primaries and two sets of alternates during the race, creating strategic complexity throughout the event. Teams are expected to make between six and seven pit stops over the 225-lap distance. The dual-compound format gives crew chiefs multiple viable strategies and genuine decision points, with tire performance differences potentially influencing the race outcome.
Malukas Hospitalized After Nashville Practice Crash, Cleared to Race
David Malukas was taken to a local hospital after crashing in Turn 2 during IndyCar practice at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday. The Team Penske driver made contact with the wall on lap five, injuring his knee when it struck the quick-release collar of his steering wheel. Malukas was transported by ambulance for evaluation but was cleared to return to competition at approximately 4:15 p.m. CT. “Nothing’s broken,” he said after being released. The incident compounded a difficult weekend for Malukas, who also received a nine-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change heading into qualifying.
IndyCar Silly Season: Dixon and Rosenqvist Headed to Arrow McLaren
IndyCar’s driver market is in full motion heading into the second half of the 2026 season. Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist have both confirmed moves to Arrow McLaren for 2027, while Christian Lundgaard has been released from his McLaren ties and is now a free agent. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is reportedly exploring the sale of its third charter to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for between $10 million and $15 million. Chip Ganassi Racing will need to replace Dixon, with Lundgaard emerging as a candidate for the seat. Mick Schumacher is also said to have secured new financial backing for a 2027 ride.
Dallara IR28 Set for First Track Test Within Two Weeks
The Dallara IR28, IndyCar’s next-generation race car, is set to complete its first track laps within the next two weeks, according to a report published July 19. The chassis features a 2.4-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine and is expected to debut at either Sebring International Raceway’s short course or the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The hybrid power unit will not be included in the initial evaluation phase. IndyCar has not yet released any images of the IR28. The testing window is expected to fall in late July or early August, ahead of the series’ next race at Portland on August 9.
Drivers' Championship
1. Alex Palou — 404 pts
2. Kyle Kirkwood — 348 pts
3. Christian Lundgaard — 339 pts
4. David Malukas — 338 pts
5. Pato O'Ward — 310 pts
6. Josef Newgarden — 270 pts
7. Felix Rosenqvist — 265 pts
8. Scott McLaughlin — 262 pts
9. Scott Dixon — 224 pts
10. Marcus Ericsson — 222 pts
11. Rinus VeeKay — 219 pts
12. Marcus Armstrong — 219 pts
13. Graham Rahal — 218 pts
14. Will Power — 209 pts
15. Kyffin Simpson — 194 pts
16. Alexander Rossi — 190 pts
17. Santino Ferrucci — 179 pts
18. Louis Foster — 159 pts
19. Dennis Hauger — 148 pts
20. Nolan Siegel — 145 pts
21. Christian Rasmussen — 143 pts
22. Romain Grosjean — 139 pts
23. Caio Collet — 132 pts
24. Sting Ray Robb — 108 pts
25. Mick Schumacher — 108 pts
26. Conor Daly — 24 pts
27. Takuma Sato — 20 pts
28. Jack Harvey — 8 pts
29. Jacob Abel — 6 pts
30. Helio Castroneves — 5 pts
31. Ed Carpenter — 5 pts
32. Ryan Hunter-Reay — 5 pts
33. Katherine Legge — 5 pts
Teams' Championship
1. Team Penske — 870 pts
2. Chip Ganassi Racing — 822 pts
3. Arrow McLaren — 799 pts
4. Andretti Global — 779 pts
5. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing — 505 pts
6. Meyer Shank Racing — 489 pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 338 pts
8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 327 pts
9. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 311 pts
10. Dale Coyne Racing — 287 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing — 32 pts
12. Abel Motorsports — 6 pts
13. HMD Motorsports w/ AJ Foyt — 5 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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