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IndyCar is set to move its season finale to a revamped course on the streets of Nashville next year, according to daily newspaper IndyStar.
Contract:
- Course will not be the same street circuit used since 2021
- Confirmation is expected ahead of this year’s Nashville race on 6th August
- Nashville will also host the season-ending banquet as part of the deal
- Laguna Seca has hosted the season finale since 2019
Context: The expectation is that Nashville would have been moved from its date anyway due to its August slot clashing with the 2024 Paris Olympics. IndyCar will be taking a mid-season break next year as broadcast partner NBC will have its full attention on Paris. The race was also due to make adjustments as National Football League (NFL) franchise Tennessee Titans will be constructing a US$2.1 billion domed stadium on the space currently used by the IndyCar paddock.
Comment: Jason Rittenberry, Nashville’s chief commercial officer, told IndyStar last October: “We’re looking at this as a very, very long-term commitment. We’re thinking about a 20-plus-year deal, and if we’re disrupted for two [years because of the stadium construction], we feel confident enough in the city, our event and IndyCar’s product that this isn’t going to set us back.”
Consequence: What IndyCar needs to avoid is the chaotic races we’ve seen in Nashville ruining a potential championship battle in a final race decider, so plans for a new course are welcome. It is not yet clear if the bridge – a staple of the marketing for the race – will be used as part of the redesigned circuit.