Josef Newgarden, one of the biggest names in IndyCar, is rolling into Nashville Superspeedway on July 19 aiming to defend his Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix title, and he is doing it with a seriously banged-up foot. Just days before the big race, on July 17, Newgarden was seen at the Assembly Food Hall Skydeck, chilling with his right knee propped up, his left knee dangling, and a walking boot anchored firmly to his injured foot. This dude is still on crutches from a wreck back on May 24 at the Indy 500. Seriously, the guy is still hobbled, but his eyes are fixed on victory lane.
Nashville’s Favorite Champ Is Back On One Leg
You gotta respect the grind. Newgarden was seen craning his neck to check out footage of last year’s Music City Grand Prix win playing on the big screen behind him. He knows what’s up. He remembers that August 31, 2025 win like it was yesterday, telling The Tennessean, “I just remember it being a great race.” That’s the vibe he is chasing again, even with the injury. Newgarden knows fans are expecting the same fire, the same grit, from him and his team this year. He talked about “being able to ride the cadence of the race in the correct way,” pushing forward throughout the day, always finding a way to get better. That’s the champion’s mindset right there, folks. No excuses, just figuring it out.
More Laps, More Pit Stops, Same Show?
This year’s Music City Grand Prix is going to be even more of a marathon, stretching to 300 laps, which is a full 75 laps more than last year. What does that mean for strategy? An extra pit stop, for starters. You’d think that for a guy still on crutches, more laps would be a nightmare. But Newgarden, ever the racer, sees it differently. He says the extra laps just “add to the fun.” He’s not wrong, you’re going to see the same product, just a bit longer, with the strategy slightly tweaked. In his opinion, it is not going to change the show that much. He’s approaching it the way he did last year, injury or not, ready to put on a performance.
The big question is, can Newgarden repeat his victory on July 19 at Nashville Superspeedway, carrying that injury all the way to the checkered flag? He’s looking forward to what he hopes will be “a great race” again. Keep your eyes peeled, because if anyone can do it on one good foot, it is Josef Newgarden.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply