FOX adds pre-race IndyCar coverage for Nashville

FOX is expanding its broadcast window for the Aug. 31 season finale at Nashville Speedway.

Originally scheduled to go live at 2:30pm ET, FOX will open the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix show 30 minutes earlier to “offer even more time to celebrate a historic run by the season champion or set up a thrilling season finale and the fight for the championship,” according to the IndyCar Series.

With his championship lead trimmed to 99 points, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou continues to hold a tight grip on the title with four races left to run, but his main challenger, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, is on a hot streak of late, winning two of the last three contests.

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If Palou continues his strong historical form at this weekend’s Java House Grand Prix of Monterey and again on Aug. 10 at the BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland, he could be in a position to clinch the championship at Portland if O’Ward has two poor results, or take the championship after the Aug. 24 Milwaukee Mile race.

A sustained fight from O’Ward and poor finishes from Palou over the upcoming races is where the extended FOX broadcast at Nashville could bring greater value, but if the championship is settled beforehand, the extra 30 minutes can be used to celebrate the new title holder and set up the remaining battles for the better rankings in the standings and the challenge facing the handful of drivers attempting to earn $1 million Leaders Circle contracts for their teams.