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LEBANON − Two-time Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden retook the lead in the Nashville IndyCar race on Aug. 31 with 24 laps to go and held on for his first win in the last race of the 2025 season.
The victory salvaged the season for Newgarden, a Nashville resident, who celebrated the Music City Grand Prix win by climbing out of his Team Penske Honda, climbing the fence and celebrating with his fans at Nashville Superspeedway.
It also was Newgarden's first win on his home track.
Alex Palou, the 2025 IndyCar Series champion, finished second, and Newgarden's Penske Teammate Scott McLaughlin was third.
Newgarden first took the lead on Lap 147 of 225 when he overtook Alexander Rossi. Newgarden spent the next 40 laps locked in a battle with McLaughlin.
Newgarden's hopes to win were hurt when Palou was attempting to pass and undercut Newgarden.
Newgarden also slid through his final pit stop, which cost him time.
Newgarden recovered and retook the lead from McLaughlin on Lap 201.
Palou moved ahead of McLaughlin and challenged Newgarden for the final six laps. Newgarden was only a half-second ahead of Palou with four laps to go with Kyffin Simpson in third.
Pole winner Pato O'Ward experienced front end issues and crashed into the marbles while in the lead on Lap 123.
Colton Herta was in contention until being penalized for an unsafe release out of pit lane on Lap 136. Will Power took the lead after the caution.
Palou, who had already clinched his fourth IndyCar Series championship, dropped from battling Pato O'Ward for the lead to 25th place when his right front tire blew out on Lap 54.
Palou clinched the 2024 championship at the Music City Grand Prix by finishing 11th.
Paluo got a fresh set of tires by using the stop as a regular pit stop and 12 laps later he was back to third place behind O'Ward and David Malukas.
Malukas was running second behind O'Ward when rookie Louis Foster, who was a lap down, ran Mulukas up the track and spinning backward into the wall.
Malukas was irate on the radio after the crash on Lap 88. He was hoping for his first win of the season. His best finish was second in the Indianapolis 500. Malukas was sent to the trauma center after being evaluated in the infield safety center.
Foster came into the race with an eight-point lead on Robert Shwartzman for rookie of the year.
Before winning on Aug. 31, Nashville's Joseph Newgarden finished third in 2024, fourth in 2023, sixth in 2022 and 10th in 2021.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Josef Newgarden salvages 2025 season winning Nashville IndyCar race
Continue reading...
The victory salvaged the season for Newgarden, a Nashville resident, who celebrated the Music City Grand Prix win by climbing out of his Team Penske Honda, climbing the fence and celebrating with his fans at Nashville Superspeedway.
It also was Newgarden's first win on his home track.
Alex Palou, the 2025 IndyCar Series champion, finished second, and Newgarden's Penske Teammate Scott McLaughlin was third.
Newgarden first took the lead on Lap 147 of 225 when he overtook Alexander Rossi. Newgarden spent the next 40 laps locked in a battle with McLaughlin.
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Newgarden's hopes to win were hurt when Palou was attempting to pass and undercut Newgarden.
Newgarden also slid through his final pit stop, which cost him time.
Newgarden recovered and retook the lead from McLaughlin on Lap 201.
Palou moved ahead of McLaughlin and challenged Newgarden for the final six laps. Newgarden was only a half-second ahead of Palou with four laps to go with Kyffin Simpson in third.
Pole winner Pato O'Ward experienced front end issues and crashed into the marbles while in the lead on Lap 123.
Colton Herta was in contention until being penalized for an unsafe release out of pit lane on Lap 136. Will Power took the lead after the caution.
Flat tire doesn't slow Alex Palou
Palou, who had already clinched his fourth IndyCar Series championship, dropped from battling Pato O'Ward for the lead to 25th place when his right front tire blew out on Lap 54.
Palou clinched the 2024 championship at the Music City Grand Prix by finishing 11th.
Paluo got a fresh set of tires by using the stop as a regular pit stop and 12 laps later he was back to third place behind O'Ward and David Malukas.
Rookie Louis Foster crashes David Malukas
Malukas was running second behind O'Ward when rookie Louis Foster, who was a lap down, ran Mulukas up the track and spinning backward into the wall.
Malukas was irate on the radio after the crash on Lap 88. He was hoping for his first win of the season. His best finish was second in the Indianapolis 500. Malukas was sent to the trauma center after being evaluated in the infield safety center.
Foster came into the race with an eight-point lead on Robert Shwartzman for rookie of the year.
Where Josef Newgarden has finished in Music City Grand Prix
Before winning on Aug. 31, Nashville's Joseph Newgarden finished third in 2024, fourth in 2023, sixth in 2022 and 10th in 2021.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Josef Newgarden salvages 2025 season winning Nashville IndyCar race
Continue reading...
