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Why IndyCar apologized to Music City Grand Prix officials in 2022 and what it means for Sunday's race

Mike Organ, Nashville Tennessean
·4 min read
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Each of the first two Big Machine Music City Grand Prix races was marred with wrecks, which led to IndyCar issuing an apology to local organizers. The third annual race is Sunday (11:30 a.m. CT, NBC) on the streets of Nashville, and officials are hoping for a cleaner race.

After nine cautions, a race stoppage and two red flags on the 80 laps in 2021, there were eight cautions, a red flag and 10 cars that failed to finish following eight crashes in 2022.

"From a fan's perspective, it's a double-edged sword," Music City Grand Prix president and COO Jason Rittenberry said. "They like to see the excitement, see the wrecks, but it does slow down the race. While it is an exciting race, it is a tight course and we realize that. My comment to the drivers and IndyCar was that there are three or four other series that drive it with no problems. So is it the course or is it the drivers?"

IndyCar officials have had a conversation with the drivers about doing better this year.

Here is what to know about the 2023 race:

New start time for the Music City Grand Prix

The race started at 2 p.m. the previous two years, but will move to 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday.

Gates open at 7:30 a.m. The first race is the Indy NXT series at 9:15 a.m.

The Music City Grand Prix pre-race ceremonies begin at 10:05 a.m.

A Stadium Super Trucks race will follow the Music City Grand Prix at 2:30 p.m., then an SRO GT America (Race 2) at 3:20 p.m. and a Toyota GR Cup (Race 2) at 4:15 p.m.

Gates close at 5 p.m.

Watching the weather

While Nashville temperatures are expected to dip just a tad this week, they will start to climb again over the weekend, with a high near 93 degrees under mostly sunny skies expected on race day, according to the National Weather Service.

There is a 50% chance for showers and thunderstorms.

Rain and lightning delayed the start of the 2022 race for more than 90 minutes. Track officials canceled all pre-race ceremonies except for the command to start engines to get the race going as quickly as possible after the bad weather moved on.

Ticket sales are solid

Ticket sales are ahead of last year, when a total of 117,000 fans turned out for the three days of the Music City Grand Prix festivities.

"We're right on track for where we thought we would be," Rittenberry said. "There are still some great seats available. There are some grandstand seats available and a few opportunities in some of the clubs that are still available."

More than 130,000 attended the inaugural race weekend.

For tickets visit bit.ly/47a3hUe.

The Newgarden factor

Nashville IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden is enjoying an outstanding year and race officials hope that generates some added excitement.

Newgarden claimed his first Indianapolis 500 victory in May and won both races July 22-23 at Iowa Speedwaay.

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The two-time IndyCar champion is in second place in the points standings, trailing Álex Palou by 80 points with five races remaining.

"Our hope is that Josef's success drives momentum and ticket sales in the market," Rittenberry said. "Personally, we're excited for Josef and the momentum he's coming in on. He is on fire and the hottest driver in IndyCar coming into our race, and from a hometown perspective we would love to see him in victory lane."

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Other than the race

Promoters bill the event each year as a festival and blend it with lots of musical performances.

This year's lineup includes Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, Chris Janson, Gavin DeGraw, Flo Rida, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, Tim Dugger and others.

Neil, Janson and DeGraw will perform on the main stage beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

Flo Rida will be on the main stage at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

DeMarcus will lead a worship service at 9 a.m. Sunday, with Jason Crabb, Consumed By Fire, Cade Thompson and Iveth Luna on the praise stage.

Dugger will perform after the Music City Grand Prix at 2 p.m. Sunday on the main stage.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: IndyCar hopes to provide a better Music City Grand Prix race this year