Scott McLaughlin Wins Pole At Music City Grand Prix For Second Consecutive Year

Scott McLaughlin at the 2022 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Photo: Courtesy of the MCGP

For the second consecutive year, Scott McLaughlin, driver of the No. 3 Penske Chevrolet, has won the pole at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix with a 1:14.6 lap in the Firestone Fast 6.

McLaughlin’s pole win comes after nearly a four hour weather delay. This is the New Zealand native’s first pole of the season and Penske’s first street course pole of the season.

Following McLaughlin in the top six, are Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta, NTT IndyCar Series standings leader Alex Palou, David Malukas and Romain Grosjean. Nashville native Josef Newgarden will start ninth tomorrow behind 2022 IndyCar champion Will Power who will be starting seventh.

McLaughlin had a great race in Nashville in 2021, winning the pole and finishing second behind behind fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon. McLaughlin was short of the win by 0.1067.

McLaughlin currently sits in fifth place in the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series standings with 329 points. O’Ward is tied with the pole winner also with 329 points. 2021 BMMCGP winner Marcus Erisson sits in fourth place with 330 points but will be starting 20th. Dixon sits in third place with 357 points and will be starting 12th.

The third annual Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is set to start at 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday (Aug. 6).

Steven Boero