Kyle Kirkwood Leads 34 Laps To Win The 2023 Music City Grand Prix

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Kyle Kirkwood on victory lane after winning the 2023 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Photo: Travis Hinkle / IndyCar

Another exciting finish in Nashville ends with Kyle Kirkwood holding off pole winner Scott McLaughlin to win the 2023 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

The driver of the No. 27 Andretti Autosports Chevrolet started the race eighth but quickly found himself fighting for a spot in the top row. By halfway through the race, Kirkwood found himself in first place, consistently holding a two second lead. He led 34 out of the 80 laps to clinch his second career NTT IndyCar Series win.

“I’ve got to give up to the 27 crew, AutoNation, Andretti, Honda,” Kirkwood said post-race. “They played everything in my favor, to be honest. They gave me all the tools I needed. They cycled me to the front on strategy, and we just made really smart decisions and hit all of our marks. Just a solid day.”

Watch Kirkwood’s entire post-race press conference in the link below:

Despite this tracks history of cautions and constant chaos, this year’s race was extremely smooth with just one caution before the final 10 laps when a yellow flag was waved after rookie Linus Lundqvist collided with the wall. This is when things became intense.

On the restart, there was an accident involving Felix Rosenqvist, Agustin Canapino and Benjamin Pederson which brought out a red flag with just four laps to go. On the final restart, Krikwood got a great jump on turn 10 and never looked back.

This was McLaughlin’s second consecutive P2 finish at the Music City Grand Prix.

“I tried my hardest. Congrats to Kyle and his team. Another top-three, good points,” said McLaughlin post-race. “Bummed we didn’t get the win, but we weren’t the best on the day. Kyle was. Hopefully next year we’re running for the championship and win here and win the championship, as well. There will be a huge party on Broadway.”

Watch the entire post-race press conference with McLaughlin and Palou in the link below:

The biggest fight of the day was for the third, fourth and fifth positions. It was a big battle between current NTT IndyCar Series standings leader Alex Palou, Nashville native Josef Newgarden, last year’s MCGP winner Scott Dixon and Romain Grosjean.

There were heavy points implications going into the as Newgarden trailed Palou in the standings by 80 points and Dixon was third in the points. Palou was able to hold off Newgarden for third and another podium and extends his point lead to 84. Dixon who started in 12th was able to finish fourth. Dixon still sits in third place in the standings, but McLaughlin jumps from fifth to fourth, hopping Marcus Ericsson.

There are just four races left in the NTT IndyCar Series season starting with the Gallagher Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 12.

Final results at the 2023 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix:

Steven Boero
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