Alex Palou secures third championship title while Colton Herta celebrates a remarkable victory in a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series at the Nashville Superspeedway.
The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix unfolded over 206 laps on a challenging 1.33-mile oval track, showcasing the intense competition and strategic maneuvers that define IndyCar racing.
Entering the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series finale with a commanding 33-point lead over his closest rival Will Power, Palou faced a unique set of challenges. Although he had previously dominated the season, including two wins and consistent podium finishes, the Nashville event presented a different scenario.
Palou’s qualifying performance was less than ideal; he secured only the 15th position on the starting grid. Compounding this setback was a nine-place grid penalty imposed due to an unauthorized engine change, which relegated him to 24th place at the start of the race.
Conversely, Power had qualified fourth and was poised to capitalize on Palou’s misfortunes.
As the race commenced, Kyle Kirkwood, who secured pole position, initially led the pack but later faced technical issues that would set the stage for a dramatic race.
Despite starting from the front, Kirkwood struggled to maintain his lead after suffering damage during practice sessions that required overnight repairs. His Andretti teammate Josef Newgarden, who qualified second, quickly applied pressure, looking to capitalize on any mistakes.
However, just 13 laps into the race, Power’s hopes were dashed when his lap belt malfunctioned. “My belt came off!” he exclaimed over the radio as he was forced to pit under green conditions. The unexpected pit stop cost him valuable time and ultimately left him five laps down from the leaders.
Power’s misfortune effectively meant Palou secures third championship title, with the guarantee allowing him to focus on navigating through the field rather than worrying about his rival.
The Chip Ganassi driver quickly began to climb through the ranks, showcasing his adeptness at overtaking and strategic driving. Within 30 laps, he had advanced to 12th place, further extending his lead in the championship standings.
Ultimately finishing 11th in the race was sufficient for Palou to secure his title without needing to push for a higher position.
While Palou’s championship story unfolded with relative ease after Power’s early troubles, Colton Herta emerged as the star of the race. Herta, who had recently relocated to Nashville, captured his first career victory on an oval track—a significant milestone for any driver.
After starting fifth, Herta engaged in an exhilarating battle with Pato O’Ward in the closing laps. The two drivers exchanged positions multiple times before Herta executed a daring pass on lap 203, maneuvering around O’Ward and lapped traffic with precision reminiscent of legendary overtakes in motorsport history.
Herta crossed the finish line first with a time of 1:43:15.2534, marking Andretti Global’s second win of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series. His victory not only solidified his standing as a formidable competitor but also propelled him to second place in the overall championship standings—a testament to his growth and potential as a future champion.
O’Ward finished second in both the race and overall standings while Josef Newgarden rounded out the podium in third place at Nashville. Newgarden’s performance was commendable; however, it wasn’t enough to elevate him beyond eighth place in the final championship standings.
Kyle Kirkwood managed to recover from early setbacks to finish fourth after leading several laps early in the race. Meanwhile, Scott McLaughlin finished fifth in both the race and overall standings, maintaining his status as one of Team Penske’s top drivers.
Santino Ferrucci and Marcus Armstrong finished sixth and seventh respectively, showcasing their growing competitiveness within the series.
Linus Lundqvist wrapped up an impressive rookie season by finishing eighth in Nashville, having already secured Rookie of the Year honors earlier in Milwaukee. His performance throughout the season has set high expectations for future races.
As Palou secures third championship title, he becomes the second driver in history to win consecutive championships since Dario Franchitti achieved this feat in 2011. His success is a testament to both his talent and the strength of Chip Ganassi Racing as they continue to dominate in IndyCar.
