Indianapolis 500 Results 2026: Felix Rosenqvist wins
May 25, 2026
The 2025 IndyCar season finale at Nashville Music City Grand Prix delivered a gripping spectacle punctuated by multiple crashes that saw home hero Josef Newgarden win.
Newgarden’s victory was his first of the year and marked the 32nd win of his IndyCar career, breaking a winless streak that had extended through the previous 20 races.
The triumph at his home track was not only a redemption but a significant boost for the Team Penske outfit after enduring a tough 2025 campaign.
“I’m just glad we got one without anything going wrong for the No. 2 crew,” Newgarden said. “Just happy to celebrate with this team. They deserve it. It’s rewarding for our team; they’ve done a great job.”
The turning point came 21 laps before the finish when Newgarden seized the lead after his teammate Scott McLaughlin skidded into the wall while pressing to maintain the front position.
This incident triggered a caution period which set the stage for a memorable Josef Newgarden win, as he managed to hold off a determined charge from 2025 IndyCar series champion Alex Palou in the final laps.
IndyCar Nashville Race Results 2025
Final 2025 IndyCar Drivers Championship Standings
The Nashville Music City Grand Prix was a battleground of skill and endurance, with a record 284 position changes, including an astounding 130 overtakes within the top 10 and 74 in the top five, highlighting the fierce competition on this fast, tight course.
From the outset, the race was highly competitive as pole sitter Pato O’Ward immediately took control into turn one with Palou making a bold move around the outside to grab second position early on.
However, the opening laps were chaotic as multiple drivers fought aggressively for position, leading to an early crash involving Christian Rasmussen which brought out a caution.
As the race settled into its rhythm, O’Ward stretched his lead over the pack and by Lap 43 Palou’s 3.4s down, David Malukas 4.9s, Scott McLaughlin’s 5.1s, while Scott Dixon fell back to P8.
On Lap 52 Palou suffered a flat right front tire, forcing him to pit under green but managed to stay on the lead lap, demonstrating resilience that would see him remain competitive throughout the event.
The challenges escalated with a significant incident on lap 83, involving David Malukas and rookie Louis Foster. Malukas, who had been running well and was among the frontrunners, collided with Foster near Turn 1 in a tense and aggressive maneuver while attempting to lap the newcomer.
The impact sent Malukas hard into the wall, calling for emergency medical attention and subsequent airlift to a hospital for precautionary evaluation. The 23-year old driver was reported to be okay, much to the relief of teams and fans.
Pato O’Ward continued to lead, appearing set to cruise to victory until a dramatic turn of events on lap 127. He suffered the same tire issue as Palou – a front-right tire failure – that sent him sliding up the track into the wall, abruptly ending his chances and leaving the frontrunning spot open.
Following O’Ward’s exit, Will Power temporarily took command of the race looking poised to claim victory for Team Penske.
Yet, in a heartbreaking twist Power’s pit stop on Lap 130 went awry when he overshot his pit box leading to a prolonged stop and dropped a lap behind, effectively ending his challenge.
On Lap 141 restart Alexander Rossi who didn’t pit took the lead, followed by Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Armstrong, Conor Daly, Kyle Kirkwood and Alex Palou down in P7.
Newgarden took the lead three laps later before relinquishing it to Palou and later McLaughlin, following a series of pitstops.
With 21 laps remaining, Newgarden made a decisive move to overtake McLaughlin who had momentarily brushed the wall – and secured the lead all the way to the checkered flag despite pressure from Palou, who finished less than six-tenths of a second behind.
Behind the leading duo, McLaughlin fought back to secure the final podium spot for Team Penske, demonstrating grit despite his earlier mistake.
READ MORE: Pato O’Ward steals IndyCar Nashville pole from David Malukas in thrilling 2025 qualifying finale
