The Team Penske driver is the defending champion of the Music City Grand Prix, which is scheduled for July 19 at Nashville Superspeedway. The race will air on Fox Sports after the World Cup final, which begins at 2 p.m. CST.
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Newgarden has remained tight-lipped since injuring his foot during a crash in the 2026 Indianapolis 500 on May 24.
IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)A Gibson Les Paul electric guitar is displayed at the Gibson Garage and will be awarded to the winner of the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden takes the microphone as Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, far right, is gifted a Gibson Les Paul during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Anne Fischgrund, president of the Music City Grand Prix, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, far right, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Dave Furst, vice president of communications for the IndyCar Series, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Scott Borchetta, Music City Grand Prix president, center, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, left, speaks as IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden sits next to him during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)1 / 11
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
A Gibson Les Paul electric guitar is displayed at the Gibson Garage and will be awarded to the winner of the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden takes the microphone as Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, far right, is gifted a Gibson Les Paul during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
Anne Fischgrund, president of the Music City Grand Prix, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, far right, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
Dave Furst, vice president of communications for the IndyCar Series, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
Scott Borchetta, Music City Grand Prix president, center, speaks during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix unveils Gibson Les Paul trophy
Scott Borchetta, president of Borchetta Bourbon, sponsor of the Music City Grand Prix, left, speaks as IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden sits next to him during the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix trophy unveiling at Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, July 9, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)
"I'm keeping the foot stuff close to (the vest) right now," Newgarden said at the event at Gibson Guitar Garage. "But everything's been good. I mean we've had a great team that's just been going forward every day. That's kind of the most important thing: whatever obstacles we have, we just keep moving forward. You're going to have that in racing in a lot of different ways. I just feel like we're in a really good place right now."
Since the injury, Newgarden finished 10th at the Grand Prix of Detroit on May 31, won the Grand Prix of Illinois on June 7, finished 22nd at the Grand Prix of Road America, and finished ninth at the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio on July 5.
"Everything's been good; having a great car underneath me is the best thing," Newgarden said when asked about dealing with the injury. "When the car's fast, everything else looks good, and so if we can put a fast car on the track we're going to be alright."
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Before the injury, the two-time IndyCar Series champion won the second race of the season at Phoenix on March 7. He is currently sixth in the IndyCar Series points standings with 270. Alex Palou is at the top of the standings with 404 points.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.