Honda IndyCar Drivers Dominate Season Heading to Nashville

Alex Palou, the reigning and four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, continues to lead the 2026 season standings as the series heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. Palou, driving for Honda-powered Chip Ganassi Racing, holds a significant 56-point lead, aiming for his fifth title in six years. The upcoming Honda IndyCar Nashville race is a crucial event in the championship calendar.

Palou's Dominant Season

Alex Palou has established himself as the driver to beat in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He secured championship titles in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, making him a four-time series champion. This season, Palou has already claimed four victories: St. Pete, Barber, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and the HRC-branded ‘Honda Honda’ at the Detroit Grand Prix. His consistent performance places him firmly at the top of the standings.

Palou's pursuit of a fifth championship before turning 30 highlights his remarkable career trajectory. His commanding lead underscores the strength of his Chip Ganassi Racing team and the Honda power units.

IndyCar Viewership and Nashville's Racing History

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has experienced a notable increase in audience viewership this season, partly attributed to its broadcast schedule alongside the World Cup. Races following World Cup matches on Fox have seen significant boosts. For instance, Road America drew an average of 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.9 million, after a Spain Group Stage match.

Similarly, Mid-Ohio recorded average viewership of 1.3 million, with a peak of 1.5 million, in a race that preceded the Norway vs. Brazil match. Overall, IndyCar viewership is up 18% compared to 2025, which was already a record-breaking year for audience growth. The upcoming Honda IndyCar Nashville race is expected to benefit from this trend.

Nashville has a varied history with IndyCar racing. While the series competed on a downtown temporary street circuit from 2021 to 2023, 2024 marked its return to the Nashville Superspeedway oval for the first time since 2008. Marcus Ericsson won the inaugural Nashville Music City Grand Prix in 2021, followed by Scott Dixon in 2022, and Kyle Kirkwood in 2023. Colton Herta was victorious at the first race on the Nashville Superspeedway oval in 2024, initiating an 11-race winning streak for Honda that spanned the end of 2024 and the first ten races of 2025.

Honda Driver Performance and Race Details

Beyond Palou, other Honda drivers are also performing strongly. Kyle Kirkwood, driving for Andretti Global, has reclaimed second place in the championship standings. This follows his first-career road course podium finish at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Kirkwood has achieved 10 top 10 finishes in 11 races this season, demonstrating remarkable consistency.

The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix from Nashville Superspeedway will be broadcast live on Fox on Sunday, July 19, 2025, at 4:30 PM CT / 5:30 PM ET, immediately following the World Cup final. Complete flag-to-flag coverage will also be available on the INDYCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation (Channel 160). Qualifying for the Honda IndyCar Nashville race will air on Fox on Saturday at 3 PM ET, with practice sessions on FS1 and FS2.

Honda's continued success in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, highlighted by Alex Palou's championship lead and strong performances from other Honda-powered drivers, sets the stage for an exciting Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. Fans can anticipate competitive racing and a significant broadcast event as the season progresses.