LEBANON, Tenn. — What was originally supposed to be an IndyCar showcase to a large television audience following the end of the FIFA World Cup Championship Game turned into a major disappointment as Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix was postponed because of heavy rain.
First, it was a lightning hold, followed by a moderate rainstorm that stopped in enough time for the jet dryers to attempt to dry the 1.33-mile concrete oval so the race could get started later Sunday night. That was nearly successful as it appeared the track was nearly dry giving hope to the paddock and the fans that had stuck around that they would see IndyCar racing action, even if the dreams of a big rating were dampened.
But shortly before 8 p.m. Central Time, a heavy deluge of rain washed away any chances of running the race on Sunday night. It has been postponed to start Monday at 2 p.m. Central Time (3 p.m. ET), weather permitting. This time of year in Middle Tennessee with high heat and humidity, there is a possibility of rain every day.
IndyCar teams passed the time before the race was officially postponed by creating games in their garage stalls, including the Andretti Global crew playing dice. Others kicked soccer balls in the rain and broke out Frisbees in the garage.
“Getting this to be a night race is going to be spectacular,” Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson said. “The track will open up and hopefully this will be a really good race. I’m going to be running up high and make that work. I’m excited to go racing. It’s going to be a great race track and being a night race will be another level.”
But there wasn’t anything that could prevent the heavy rain shower that washed away any hope of running this race on Sunday night. It was also a major disappointment to IndyCar, race sponsor Scott Borchetta and Nashville Superspeedway of showcasing IndyCar to a massive television audience with the World Cup as a major lead-in to a Sunday night prime-time telecast.
The race distance has been reduced from 300 to 225 laps for the rescheduled Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls on Monday, July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway due to a forecast of record temperatures and a heat index over 100 degrees.
