Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2023 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.
Change shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a negative.
In the case of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, another welcome change will occur in 2024 in a schedule announcement that was highlighted by the season finale moving to Broadway on the streets of Nashville. The new 2.17-mile, seven-turn circuit in Nashville still incorporates the iconic Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge but also adds views of the Country Music Hall of Fame and world-famous Honky Tonk Row.
For the first time, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion will be crowned and celebrated as part of the marquee Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend Sept. 13-15, which will include a massive Broadway street party that only Nashville can throw.
That was just one of several key changes and additions centering around the 2024 schedule.
The Milwaukee Mile also landed back on the calendar and will be hosting an INDYCAR SERIES race for the first time since 2015, as the penultimate race on the schedule on Labor Day weekend. The iconic facility began hosting INDYCAR SERIES racing in 1939 and has featured wins by legendary drivers such as Rodger Ward (seven), Michael Andretti (five), Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, Paul Tracy, Al Unser and Bobby Unser (four each).
The fabled 1-mile oval in West Allis, Wisconsin, will host an INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader Aug. 31-Sept. 1 for the first time in the track’s history, providing two crucial races during the homestretch of the 2024 championship.
“There is such a great tradition and history of INDYCAR racing at the Milwaukee Mile, and we are excited to build on that legacy with a Labor Day weekend NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader beginning in 2024,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Corporation. “We appreciate all the loyal and passionate INDYCAR fans in Milwaukee and across the state of Wisconsin, and thanks to our partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair Park, we can’t wait to return to the Mile next season.”
Another welcome addition is the $1 Million Challenge on March 24 at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California, an exhibition race live on NBC that will reward the winner with a cool $1 million prize.
The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will open Sunday, March 10 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the 20th Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. North America’s premier open-wheel series will crisscross the United States, including a stop for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26, before all roads lead to Nashville for an unforgettable championship finale Sunday, Sept. 15.
Another change is a move of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey from September to June 23, as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will continue to race at the beloved, picturesque circuit in Northern California.
“The upward trajectory of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is reflected through the 2024 schedule,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “With stops at premier and global entertainment districts, classic American road courses and thrilling, high-speed ovals, the 2024 season will be exhilarating and highly competitive from beginning to end.
“The growth of INDYCAR is palpable. Combined with the efforts of our teams and partners, the 2024 championship will be the perfect showcase for our drivers as we continue to build on our reach and popularity.”