Josef Newgarden Wins Nashville Finale as Alex Palou Secures Fourth IndyCar Title

Josef Newgarden ended the 2025 IndyCar season with a crucial victory at his hometown race, the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway, avoiding his first winless season since 2014. Driving the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, Newgarden narrowly beat reigning series champion Alex Palou by .5021 of a second, marking his 32nd career IndyCar win. Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, had already secured his third consecutive series title with an impressive season tally, including eight wins and 13 podiums in 17 races. Despite the victory, Newgarden's 2025 season was marked by struggles, including a low 16th place in the standings and only three top-five finishes, worsened by a setback at the Indianapolis 500 involving illegal car alterations that led to a major Team Penske management purge. Newgarden himself expressed frustration and a sense of humor about his difficult season, while emphasizing the significance of winning at his home track to salvage a tough year for himself and his team. Louis Foster also clinched Rookie of the Year honors at the season's end.