On Monday afternoon, I saw where Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) was planning an announcement for Friday morning at IMS. Being the positive and upbeat person that I am, I was hoping this would be to announce that Simon Pagenaud would be returning to the car this weekend. Then I saw the time of the scheduled announcement (11:00 am) and the time of the first IndyCar practice for the weekend (9:00 am), and I realized that was probably not it. Plus, I had put my theory out to a group text I’m in with people more on the inside than I am. They weren’t surer what the announcement was to be, but that didn’t stop them from quickly telling me how wrong I was.
What Will MSR Reveal on Friday?
Posted in IndyCar on August 9, 2023 by OilpressureRandom Thoughts on Nashville
Posted in IndyCar on August 7, 2023 by Oilpressure
The third edition of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is now in the books. I think most would agree that the 2023 version was far better than the other two. For one thing, teams were able to pick a strategy instead of reacting to the most recent crash every ten laps or so.
A Heck of a Show in Nashville
Posted in IndyCar on August 6, 2023 by Oilpressure
In year’s past, many prominent members of the IndyCar media referred to the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix as a sh**show. Some of the criticism was much-deserved. When the previous two races featured an average of 8.5 cautions per race, the event becomes an easy target. But from what I saw from the pits today, the 2023 version of this event wasn’t a sh**show – it was a heck of a show!
It’s Race Day in Nashville!
Posted in IndyCar on August 6, 2023 by Oilpressure
Good morning from a dry (for once) Nissan Stadium, which is the focal point for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. For the first time this weekend, I drove here in dry weather and actually had to wear sunglasses on my way in. It is partly cloudy with some dark clouds hanging around. I would love for it to stay dry, but based on this weekend – you never know.
Music City Grand Prix–Day Two Wrap-Up
Posted in IndyCar on August 5, 2023 by Oilpressure
There was a point in time today, that I was convinced that IndyCar Qualifying would be rained out and they would line up by points. I ate lunch at Honda Hospitality, just after the abbreviated practice session in the rain. As I walked over to the hospitality area, I was hunkered down under my umbrella. While I was eating, the heavens opened up. My watch said 12:30 and the radar looked ominous. Walking back to the stadium was just as dreary. Shortly after I got back to the media center, they announced that Qualifying would not start as scheduled and was on hold indefinitely. That’s when I thought that we were done for the day.
A Good Day to Miss
Posted in IndyCar on August 5, 2023 by Oilpressure
By Susan Phillips
Greetings from my warm and dry couch in west Nashville, far away from the festivities going on in downtown Nashville. I had already decided to sit out today’s track activities, but seeing George drive off this morning in the rain convinced me I made the right decision. I wasn’t avoiding the rain, but yesterday about did me in.
Another Rainy Day in Nashville
Posted in IndyCar on August 5, 2023 by Oilpressure
While that could be the title of a country music song, it instead describes the conditions at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix this morning. Susan did not join me this morning. Yesterday’s heat about did her in yesterday. She wants to rest up and be ready for the race tomorrow. She took pictures yesterday and will email her post to me early in the afternoon, so I’ll post it when I get it.
Oilpressure 