2024 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
{{Short description|17th race of the 2024 IndyCar Series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{American Championship Car race report infobox
| Country = USA
| Race = Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
| Image = Nashville Superspeedway diagram.svg|Caption=Layout of the Nashville Superspeedway circuit
| Date = September 15
| Year = 2024
| Official name = Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
| Round_No = 17th
| Previous_Round = 2024 Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s
| Next_Round =
| Series = IndyCar
| Location = Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tennessee
| Course = Superspeedway
| Course_mi = 1.330
| Course_km = 2.140
| Distance_laps = 206
| Distance_mi = 273.98
| Distance_km = 440.8
| Pole_Driver = Kyle Kirkwood
| Pole_Team = Andretti Autosport
| Pole_Time = 23.7702
| Pole_Country = USA
| Fast_Driver = Pato O'Ward
| Fast_Team = Arrow McLaren
| Fast_Time = 24.2869
| Fast_Lap = 165
| Fast_Country = MEX
| First_Driver = Colton Herta
| First_Team = Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian
| First_Country = USA
| Second_Driver = Pato O'Ward
| Second_Team = Arrow McLaren
| Second_Country = MEX
| Third_Driver = Josef Newgarden
| Third_Team = Team Penske
| Third_Country = USA
| Previous = 2023
| Next = 2025
}}
The 2024 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix was the seventeenth and final round of the 2024 IndyCar season. The race was held on September 15, 2024, in Lebanon, Tennessee at the Nashville Superspeedway. Due to the construction of New Nissan Stadium, the race was moved from Nashville Street Circuit to Nashville Superspeedway, owned by Marcus Smith and his Speedway Motorsports group.{{cite web |last1=Pruett |first1=Marshall |date=14 February 2024 |title=IndyCar moves season finale to Nashville Speedway |url=https://racer.com/2024/02/14/indycar-moves-season-finale-to-nashville-speedway/ |access-date=14 September 2024 |website=racer.com}} This was the last IndyCar race aired on NBC. From 2025 onwards, the IndyCar series will be televised by Fox.
Following the race, Álex Palou would win the 2024 season championship.
Entry list
{{further|2024 IndyCar Series#Confirmed entries}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Key !Meaning |
| align="center" |{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}
|Rookie |
| align="center" |{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}
|Past winner |
Practice
=Practice 1=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | |||||
| + Top Practice Speeds | |||||
| {{abbr|Pos|Position}} | {{abbr|No.|Car Number}} | Driver | Team | Engine | Lap Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
| align="center"| 10 | {{flagicon|ESP}} Alex Palou | Honda | 00:23.9565 | |||||
| 2
| align="center"| 9 | {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | Honda | 00:23.9583 | |||||
| 3
| align="center"| 26 | {{flagicon|USA}} Colton Herta | Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian | Honda | 00:23.9776 | |||||
| class="sortbottom"
! colspan="6" | Source:{{Cite web|date=September 14, 2024|title=Practice - Results|url=http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/6491/2024-09-14/indycar-results-p1.pdf|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=indycar.com}} |
Qualifying
=Qualifying Classification=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="3" |{{abbr|Pos|Position}} ! rowspan="3" |{{abbr|No.|Car Number}} ! rowspan="3" |Driver ! rowspan="3" |Team ! rowspan="3" |Engine ! colspan="2" |Time ! rowspan="3" |{{Tooltip|Final |
| colspan="2" scope="col" |Laps |
|---|
| scope="col" |Lap 1
! scope="col" |Lap 2 |
| 1
| align="center" |27 |{{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Kirkwood {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.7487 | align="center" |23.7702 | align="center" |1 |
| 2
| align="center" |2 |{{flagicon|USA}} Josef Newgarden | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.7518 | align="center" |23.8066 | align="center" |2 |
| 3
| align="center" |60 |{{flagicon|SWE}} Felix Rosenqvist | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8360 | align="center" |23.8828 | align="center" |3 |
| 4
| align="center" |12 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8372 | align="center" |23.8929 | align="center" |4 |
| 5
| align="center" |14 |{{flagicon|USA}} Santino Ferrucci | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8550 | align="center" |23.9062 | align="center" |5 |
| 6
| align="center" |66 |{{flagicon|USA}} David Malukas | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8596 | align="center" |23.9061 | align="center" |6 |
| 7
| align="center" |78 |{{flagicon|USA}} Conor Daly | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8745 | align="center" |23.9117 | align="center" |7 |
| 8
| align="center" |5 |{{flagicon|MEX}} Pato O'Ward | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8392 | align="center" |23.9705 | align="center" |8 |
| 9
| align="center" |3 |{{flagicon|USA}} Scott McLaughlin | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.9057 | align="center" |23.9193 | align="center" |9 |
| 10
| align="center" |8 |{{flagicon|SWE}} Linus Lundqvist {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8819 | align="center" |23.9567 | align="center" |10 |
| 11
| align="center" |26 |{{flagicon|USA}} Colton Herta |Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.9008 | align="center" |23.9543 | align="center" |11 |
| 12
| align="center" |21 |{{flagicon|NED}} Rinus Veekay | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.9679 | align="center" |23.9809 | align="center" |12 |
| 13
| align="center" |9 |{{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.9694 | align="center" |23.9985 | align="center" |13 |
| 14
| align="center" |11 |{{flagicon|NZL}} Marcus Armstrong | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.9441 | align="center" |24.0337 | align="center" |14 |
| 15
| align="center" |10 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Alex Palou | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.8800 | align="center" |24.1124 | align="center" |15 |
| 16
| align="center" |77 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Romain Grosjean | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |23.9928 | align="center" |24.0141 | align="center" |16 |
| 17
| align="center" |20 |{{flagicon|DEN}} Christian Rasmussen {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.0293 | align="center" |24.0560 | align="center" |17 |
| 18
| align="center" |28 |{{flagicon|SWE}} Marcus Ericsson {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.0914 | align="center" |24.0541 | align="center" |18 |
| 19
| align="center" |30 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Pietro Fittipaldi |Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.0633 | align="center" |24.0852 | align="center" |19 |
| 20
| align="center" |7 |{{flagicon|USA}} Alexander Rossi | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.1128 | align="center" |24.2361 | align="center" |20 |
| 21
| align="center" |4 |{{flagicon|CAY}} Kyffin Simpson {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.3394 | align="center" |24.1915 | align="center" |21 |
| 22
| align="center" |15 |{{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal |Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.3788 | align="center" |24.4241 | align="center" |22 |
| 23
| align="center" |18 |{{flagicon|GBR}} Jack Harvey | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.5266 | align="center" |24.4538 | align="center" |23 |
| 24
| align="center" |45 |{{flagicon|DEN}} Christian Lundgaard |Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.4946 | align="center" |24.4952 | align="center" |24 |
| 25
| align="center" |51 |{{flagicon|GBR}} Katherine Legge |Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |24.9094 | align="center" |24.6864 | align="center" |25 |
| 26
| align="center" |41 |{{flagicon|USA}} Sting Ray Robb | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |No time | align="center" |No time | align="center" |26 |
| 27
| align="center" |6 |{{flagicon|USA}} Nolan Siegel {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | data-sort-value="13" align="center" |No time | align="center" |No time | align="center" |27 |
| colspan="8" | Source:{{Cite web|date=September 14, 2024|title=Qualifications|url=https://www.indycar.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2024/big-machine-music-city-grand-prix/qualifications|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=indycar.com}} |
Race
Coming into the race, 3 drivers were mathematically eligible to win the championship, Alex Palou, Will Power, and Scott McLaughlin. However, McLaughlin was eliminated from contention upon race start since Palou started the race. Early in the race, Will Power came to pit road after his seatbelts came loose, in essence eliminating him from the title fight. On lap 55, Felix Rosenqvist ran high out of Turn 2, hitting the wall and bringing out the first caution. He was eliminated from the race. On lap 85, Katherine Legge hit the wall coming out of Turn 4, bringing out the second caution and eliminating her from the race. On lap 137, the third and final caution of the race came out after Marcus Ericsson hit the wall in Turn 4, taking him out of the race.
At the end of the race, Colton Herta fought off a hard-charging Pato O'Ward, who was on a different strategy, to take the win. This was his first win on an oval track.
Points leader Alex Palou finished 11th, securing his 3rd IndyCar championship. Colton Herta would finish 2nd in the standings (–31), and Scott McLaughlin came 3rd (–39).
=Race results=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|No.|Car Number}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Team ! scope="col" | Engine ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Laps ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Total Time ! scope="col" | Pit ! scope="col" | Grid ! scope="col" | Laps ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pts.|Points}} |
| 1
| align="center" | 26 | {{flagicon|USA}} Colton Herta | Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian | Honda | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:15.2534 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 9 | align="center" | 24 | align="center" | 51 |
|---|
| 2
| align="center" | 5 | {{flagicon|MEX}} Pato O'Ward | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:17.0640 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 7 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 41 |
| 3
| align="center" | 2 | {{flagicon|USA}} Josef Newgarden | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:17.2145 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 54 | align="center" | 36 |
| 4
| align="center" | 27 | {{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Kirkwood {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | Honda | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:19.9709 | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 67 | align="center" | 36 |
| 5
| align="center" | 3 | {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott McLaughlin | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:23.0371 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 30 |
| 6
| align="center" | 14 | {{flagicon|USA}} Santino Ferrucci | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:24.4870 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 28 |
| 7
| align="center" | 11 | {{flagicon|NZL}} Marcus Armstrong | Honda | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:29.6404 | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 12 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 26 |
| 8
| align="center" | 8 | {{flagicon|SWE}} Linus Lundqvist {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Honda | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:29.9053 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 24 |
| 9
| align="center" | 66 | {{flagicon|USA}} David Malukas | Honda | align="center" | 206 | align="center" | 01:43:30.5260 | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 5 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 23 |
| 10
| align="center" | 78 | {{flagicon|USA}} Conor Daly | align="center" | 205 | align="center" | +1 Lap | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 6 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 20 |
| 11
| align="center" | 10 | {{flagicon|ESP}} Alex Palou | Honda | align="center" | 205 | align="center" | +1 Lap | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 24 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 19 |
| 12
| align="center" | 21 | {{flagicon|NED}} Rinus Veekay | align="center" | 205 | align="center" | +1 Lap | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 10 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 18 |
| 13
| align="center" | 18 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Jack Harvey | Honda | align="center" | 205 | align="center" | +1 Lap | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 17 |
| 14
| align="center" | 20 | {{flagicon|DEN}} Christian Rasmussen {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | align="center" | 205 | align="center" | +1 Lap | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 16 |
| 15
| align="center" | 7 | {{flagicon|USA}} Alexander Rossi | align="center" | 205 | align="center" | +1 Lap | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 26 | align="center" | 32 | align="center" | 16 |
| 16
| align="center" | 77 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Romain Grosjean | align="center" | 204 | align="center" | +2 Laps | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 14 |
| 17
| align="center" | 9 | {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | Honda | align="center" | 204 | align="center" | +2 Laps | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 11 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 13 |
| 18
| align="center" | 6 | {{flagicon|USA}} Nolan Siegel {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | align="center" | 204 | align="center" | +2 Laps | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 27 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 12 |
| 19
| align="center" | 45 | {{flagicon|DEN}} Christian Lundgaard | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | align="center" | 204 | align="center" | +2 Laps | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 11 |
| 20
| align="center" | 41 | {{flagicon|USA}} Sting Ray Robb | align="center" | 204 | align="center" | +2 Laps | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 23 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 10 |
| 21
| align="center" | 30 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Pietro Fittipaldi | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | align="center" | 204 | align="center" | +2 Laps | align="center" | 5 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 9 |
| 22
| align="center" | 4 | {{flagicon|CAY}} Kyffin Simpson {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Honda | align="center" | 202 | align="center" | +4 Laps | align="center" | 5 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 8 |
| 23
| align="center" | 15 | {{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Honda | align="center" | 202 | align="center" | +4 Laps | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 7 |
| 24
| align="center" | 12 | {{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power | align="center" | 198 | align="center" | +8 Laps | align="center" | 6 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 6 |
| 25
| align="center" | 28 | {{flagicon|SWE}} Marcus Ericsson {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | Honda | align="center" | 137 | align="center" | Contact | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 5 |
| 26
| align="center" | 51 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Katherine Legge | Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing | Honda | align="center" | 85 | align="center" | Contact | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 5 |
| 27
| align="center" | 60 | {{flagicon|SWE}} Felix Rosenqvist | Honda | align="center" | 55 | align="center" | Contact | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 5 |
| class="sortbottom"
|colspan="11" style="text-align:center"|Fastest lap: {{flagicon|MEX}} Pato O'Ward (Arrow McLaren) – 24.2869 (lap 165) |
| class="sortbottom"
! colspan="11" | Source:{{Cite web|date=September 15, 2024|title=Race - Results - Final|url= https://www.indycar.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2024/big-machine-music-city-grand-prix/race|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=indycar.com}} |