The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES will conclude at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix taking place in Lebanon, Tennessee. For the second year in a row, the Nashville Superspeedway‘s 1.33-mile tri-oval will host the final round, marking the tenth time the track has featured in the series. With the championship tightly contested, Chevrolet drivers are focused on securing top positions in this critical last race of the season.
Christian Lundgaard, driving the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, trails six-time series champion Scott Dixon by only seven points for third place in the standings. A strong finish could see Lundgaard join teammate Pato O’Ward among the top three in the championship, giving Arrow McLaren a dominant presence at the summit.
In addition, the battle for Rookie of the Year is intensifying, with Indianapolis 500 pole winner Robert Shwartzman, behind the wheel of the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet, needing to outscore Louis Foster by eight points to claim the rookie title.
Chevrolet’s Historic Presence and Legacy at Nashville
Chevrolet’s connection to the Nashville Superspeedway runs deep, with notable moments including the surprise victory of Blair Racing at the track in 2002. That season saw the Larry Blair-owned team capture a win at Nashville, along with a fourth-place finish at the Indianapolis 500 and a fifth-place spot in the overall championship standings.
Blair Racing combined the experience of Indy car veteran Tom Gloy as team president and driver Alex Barron piloting the No. 44 Chevrolet Dallara. The strategic move to keep Barron on track during a late caution paid off as he held off Sam Hornish to secure one of his two INDYCAR SERIES wins that year.
Blair Racing has been working very hard all year, and this shows we’re a really good team.
—Alex Barron, Driver
Alex is a fighter. We thought the strategy might work, and it did. Those last four or five laps, Alex was 100 percent, absolutely flat stick. It was unbelievable.
—Tom Gloy, Blair Racing President
That victory also marked McLaren Racing’s return to top-level American open-wheel racing after a 17-year hiatus, with McLaren Performance Technologies supplying the engine, a 3.5L, 32-valve V8 Chevrolet powerplant.
Insights and Expectations from Chevrolet Drivers and Teams
The 2025 season finale will showcase multiple Chevrolet-powered teams aiming for strong results at Nashville. Drivers across several teams shared their strategies and reflections ahead of race day.
A.J. Foyt Racing Targets Pole and Podium Finishes
David Malukas, driving the No. 4 Clarience Technologies A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet, expressed his ambition for qualifying and race day, emphasizing the importance of the coveted pole position sticker.
Yes! That’s it! That’s a good way to put it. We’ve been so quick on ovals this year and even coming out of Milwaukee and other front running starts, we’ve just had so much speed. Our goals are definitely on the higher side. So for Nashville, we are trying to go for that sticker, I really want that pole sticker. I mean it means a lot. So, I want to get that sticker! That’d be awesome for the team. And we really deserve it. So that’s our goal for qualifying. Try to get that sticker. Maybe victory lane or a podium in the race. We would love that too.
—David Malukas, No. 4 Clarience Technologies A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet
He also discussed the challenges imposed by the concrete track surface and how it impacts car setup and driving style, explaining the importance of adjusting to these unique conditions.
Any sort of approach, when it comes to Car and Driver, everything changes per track and having that concrete surface is going to make some differences. The team has data from years past and information from last year, so I’m confident that no matter what set up we have in the car, it’s going to be very quick for us.
—David Malukas
On tire strategy, Malukas explained how the use of alternate tires adds complexity and a strategic element:
In addition to the primaries, it adds a play of strategy. You know, there’s, I guess, a little bit of a difference when it comes to using those alternate tires. If they don’t last as long and have a little bit more grip, then it’s maybe a decision of, when do we want to use that set. If we want to be a little bit quicker, a bit easier to overtake, but it’s also going to not last as long. It’s going to be interesting how it plays out. So we need to look back at the data, see how that affected the racing and so forth.
—David Malukas
Reflecting on the season, Malukas highlighted his favorite moment at the Indy 500, noting the progress made by the team.
Honestly, I think it’s going to have to be the month of May, the Indy 500. There are so many things to take out of that time and look back on. In the end, we finished second in the race, after what was an incredible journey throughout that month to build an incredible car. To see the turnaround that we’ve had from the start of the season when we were struggling to even break the top 10s, and throughout a month of working with the team and figuring out what we wanted with the car, we ended up making a car that was fast enough to qualify seventh, even fast enough to qualify in that fast six. We just were a little bit conservative on the changes for that fast 12 qualifying, but it still worked out in the race. We worked our way forward immediately, and we were fighting for that top spot all the way till the end. So Indy 500 2025 is definitely an unforgettable moment.
—David Malukas
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Phoenix Investors A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet, outlined a simpler goal for the finale:
Not really. I think a clean race to finish off the season would be good.
—Santino Ferrucci
He also addressed the track conditions:
I think as far as the car setup, it can be very similar to last year’s car because I was pretty happy with that. Then my driving? It shouldn’t change much. I don’t think you change between the concrete and asphalt ovals, you kind of keep the same approach.
—Santino Ferrucci
Ferrucci commented on passing lanes and tire wear challenges:
It’s tough, definitely tough to have a second lane because of the marbles. The concrete is so abrasive that the marbles (shreds of rubber) build up pretty quick. The concrete is very rough on the tires.
—Santino Ferrucci
When asked about how he gained positions, Ferrucci said:
I passed people down the frontstretch because you can get good runs off of [Turn] Four into One. Not so much on the backstretch because it’s shorter since it’s a D-shaped oval.
—Santino Ferrucci
Looking ahead to the next season, he plans to refine his skills and work closely with engineers:
I’m going to train a little bit differently in the off season, I’ll do a bit more go karting and work with the engineers to better understand the setup differences that we need to make.
—Santino Ferrucci
Ferrucci’s standout moment in 2025 was his Road America podium, recalling an emotional weekend:
I think my favorite moment was probably the Road America race. I think with the livery honoring Marlyne Sexton and having Nicole and Tracy (her daughters) there, it was very emotional. Then coming from the back to drive through the field to finish third and the beer catch– it was just a great weekend.
—Santino Ferrucci
Arrow McLaren Focused on Championship and Momentum
Pato O’Ward, driving the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, has already clinched second in the championship, but he and his team aim to finish the season strongly in Nashville.
We’ve clinched second in the championship but there’s still plenty to play for in Nashville. We were very close to the win last year, and getting to that top step would be the perfect way to end the season. Credit to the 5 crew and the entire team for a job well done all season long. We want to end the year the proper way and keep the momentum going as we hit the offseason.
—Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Nolan Siegel, in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, echoed determination ahead of the final race:
With one race to go, we’re focused on delivering a strong performance and ending the season on a high. The 6 crew has poured so much into these last few months, and we’re determined to see that effort pay off when it counts on Sunday.
—Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Christian Lundgaard, who is chasing third place in the championship with the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, described his team’s objectives:
Our goal is clear this weekend: race up front and do everything possible to secure third in the championship. My first year with Arrow McLaren has been really enjoyable, and I’d love to close it with a strong result to reward the team’s effort. We showed good pace in traffic last weekend, and we’ll be looking to carry that same speed into Nashville.
—Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Ed Carpenter Racing Drivers Aim to Cap Season with Strong Showings
Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Java House Chevrolet, relished the opportunity to race at Nashville for the season’s final event.
I can’t believe the final race of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is here. We are coming off a season-best weekend for the ECR team in Milwaukee and we will look to keep it rolling one more time! Nashville should be an awesome event and can’t wait to get back on track.
—Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing
Christian Rasmussen, driving the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Splenda Stevia Chevrolet, reflected on personal milestones this season and the goal to finish strong:
Here we are—the final race of the season. What a year it’s been. I was able to hit some big milestones with my first NTT INDYCAR SERIES podium in St. Louis and then my first win last week in Milwaukee. We’ve had a strong run on the ovals this year, so it feels fitting to finish the season on one. I’m excited to close things out strong and will do everything I can to break into the Top 10 in the championship, which is now within reach.
—Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing
Team Penske Chevrolet Drivers Poised for Fierce Competition in Nashville
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, welcomed the return of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES finale to his hometown, expressing confidence in their competitiveness.
I’m excited to welcome the series back to my city again this year. I honestly think we had the best car at Nashville last season. We just got bit by strategy a little. Once I got the go ahead that we were good on fuel, you saw us drive right to the rear wing of the leaders. Just ran out of laps. I honestly think this Astemo Chevy team can be that good again this year.
—Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet, emphasized the team‘s progress and optimism heading into the final event:
I honestly feel like we are hitting a stride so it’s sad to see the 2025 season come to an end. A solid podium at Milwaukee and I’m confident the DEX Imaging Chevy team will be strong again this weekend in Nashville. Obviously, a lot of work to do to get ready for next season. I think all of us in the paddock are very keen to see the schedule as well. It is an exciting time to be in the INDYCAR SERIES. The juice and the buzz around the sport is building.
—Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet
Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, reflected on the challenges faced this year and his determination to finish the season on a high note:
It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of the season. One more chance to get a win. Yeah, just a very trying year on all fronts. I can’t think of a better way to end the year than with a victory in the Verizon Chevy. I thought we were strong last weekend at Milwaukee. We had a good car last year at Nashville. We just need to put it all together.
—Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet
Looking Ahead: The Impact and Significance of Nashville’s Season Finale
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway represents not only the conclusion of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season but also a critical battleground where final championship standings and rookie awards will be decided. Chevrolet-powered teams and drivers enter this race with a blend of optimism, determination, and strategic focus, aiming to capitalize on past successes and close the year on a high note.
With challenges posed by the concrete surface and tire management, along with strategic decisions regarding alternate tire usage, the race promises to be a dynamic contest where adaptability and teamwork will be paramount. This finale will likely influence momentum heading into the offseason, shaping preparations and expectations across the paddock for the 2026 season.
For Chevrolet teams, the race is an opportunity to reinforce their presence at the front of the field and underline their commitment to excellence in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Drivers like Christian Lundgaard, Pato O’Ward, and several others will be vying to solidify their standings, while rising stars such as Robert Shwartzman seek to cement their place among the series’ elite.
