​The IndyCar Series moves to Nashville Superspeedway for a 300-lap showdown on the 1.33-mile tri-oval in Tennessee. Josef Newgarden, the hometown hero, captured the win at Nashville in 2025 and already holds two short-oval victories in 2026. Alex Palou carries a strong points advantage with seven races left as he pursues a fourth straight championship. Here’s what you need to know about the race and the weekend schedule.
All times are Eastern Time, and IndyCar sessions are available on IndyCar Live, IndyCar Radio, and Sirius XM Channel 218. The weekend kicks off with practice sessions and qualifying across multiple networks. On Saturday, IndyCar practice airs on FS1 at 10:00 a.m., followed by Indy NXT practice at 11:30 a.m. and IndyCar qualifying at 1:00 p.m. Fox will carry the IndyCar practice again at 4:35 p.m., with Indy NXT qualifying on FS2 at 6:00 p.m. Sunday’s lineup includes another IndyCar practice at 2:00 p.m. on FS2, then the Indy NXT race at 1:00 p.m. and, finally, the IndyCar race at 3:40 p.m. on Fox, with a green flag set for 4:40 p.m. All coverage on Fox begins at 5:35 p.m. ET.
Will Buxton calls the action with James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell as analysts. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee, and Jack Harvey serve as pit reporters. For fans seeking a broader viewing experience, Fubo provides a trial option to watch IndyCar action, while SiriusXM Channel 218, IndyCar Live, and the IndyCar Radio Network carry radio coverage. Mark Jaynes anchors the radio broadcasts with Davey Hamilton as the driver analyst.
The Nashville entry list features Palou, who leads the points standings with 404 points, followed by Kyle Kirkwood (348), Christian Lundgaard (339), David Malukas (338), and Pato O’Ward (310). Josef Newgarden sits with 270 points, while Felix Rosenqvist has 265, Scott McLaughlin 262, and Scott Dixon 224. Other top contenders include Marcus Ericsson at 222 and Rinus VeeKay at 219, with Marcus Armstrong close behind at 219 as well. The standings reflect points awarded to full-season entrants, capturing the evolving battle for the championship with multiple races still to go.
Past Nashville results show Newgarden beating Palou and McLaughlin in a competitive 2025 race at the venue. Looking through the season, Palou has four victories to his name so far, while Newgarden and Christian Lundgaard each have two, and Kyle Kirkwood, Felix Rosenqvist, and Pato O’Ward have one win apiece.
Upcoming IndyCar events on the calendar include a mix of road courses, street circuits, and ovals. The early-season slate featured St. Petersburg (Palou winner), Phoenix (Newgarden winner), and Arlington (Kirkwood winner). The calendar also delivered wins for Palou at Birmingham and Long Beach, with Lundgaard taking Indianapolis road course glory, Rosenqvist winning the Indy 500, Palou clinching Detroit, Newgarden winning Madison, and Palou again lifting victories as the season progressed.
This Nashville weekend promises a competitive field with Palou aiming to extend his championship lead and Newgarden looking to leverage home-track momentum. The 300 laps on the Nashville oval will test strategy, pit timing, and driver endurance as teams chase a pivotal win in the stretch run of the season. Whether Palou can sustain his early-season advantage or Newgarden can pry it away with a Nashville victory remains one of the season’s most compelling narratives.