McLaughlin denied Nashville triumph by badly timed cautions

The Team Penske driver had been second and in contention to win when he pitted on Lap 179 of 225 and went a lap down before the caution came out on Lap 181 when Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger crashed.

That gave McLaughlin’s rival a free kick. Chief among them was Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou, who had not yet pitted when the yellow came out.

He came to the lane from the lead of the race under yellow, retained the lead, and controlled the final 31-lap dash to the chequered flag.

McLaughlin, meanwhile, restarted 12th and marched his way forward to fourth.

“[Earlier in the weekend] I was not that comfortable with the car, but [Blair] Julian and everyone on the #10 car and CGR prepared a really good car for today,” said Palou.

“Beginning of the race, we were not very comfortable in traffic, but the last two stints I was just super comfortable.

“Was a close battle there with Newgarden. Just seemed like he had so much speed man and I was flat out for the last 30, 35 laps.

“Just awesome to win here. We were very close last year. Incredible to get another win.”

Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood led the field to green and jockeyed over the lead with fellow front row starter Josef Newgarden in the opening laps.

Their battle was stalled on Lap 19 when AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet crashed out of 17th place.

That brought the leaders to the pit lane. Louis Foster (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), David Malukas (Team Penske), and Christian Lundgaard (McLaren) gambled and elected to stay out on old tyres.

McLaughlin, who started third, headed the leading group off pit lane in fourth ahead of Kirkwood, Palou and Newgarden.

Foster’s time at the front was short-lived as he plummeted through the field. Malukas, however, managed to hold onto his tyres. He inherited the lead and eventually pitted on Lap 61.

McLaughlin made his second pit stop on Lap 81 and then Malukas made his second scheduled stop on Lap 119 with a three-second lead.

On Lap 123, there were bizarre scenes in the midst of green flag pit stops when Scott Dixon rear-ended Alexander Rossi. The Ed Carpenter Racing driver suddenly slowed, leaving Dixon with nowhere to go.

Dixon’s car suffered damage to the nose and front right corner while Rossi went spinning through the grass before hitting the wall entering Turn 3.

“I was just coming in [to the pits] and I guess he misjudged it or didn’t know I was pitting or whatever,” said Rossi.

“Blindsided me in the attenuator and that’s about it.”

Palou, who pitted just as caution came out from fourth, inherited the lead. McLaughlin led Kirkwood to that point with VeeKay third – though they all dropped a spot after pitting.

The Spaniard controlled the following green flag run to the subsequent round of pit stops.

It was on Lap 179 that McLaughlin pitted from second and was dudded by a badly timed caution.

On Lap 181, Hauger spun and brought out the yellow, neutralising the field and giving the front-runners who hadn’t yet pitted a free kick.

Racing resumed with 31 laps to go. with Palou leading Newgarden, Rosenqvist, Malukas and Marcus Ericsson. Malukas moved up one spot to third while McLaughlin marched forward to fourth.

As for Andretti Global’s Will Power, he made contact with the wall following a restart and damaged his car. He finished 15 laps down in 20th.

Results: IndyCar Series Music City Grand Prix, Nashville Superspeedway