IndyCar driver change confirmed for Nashville race

Linus Lundqvist is set to join Meyer Shank Racing as Simon Pagenaud’s replacement for this coming Sunday afternoon’s IndyCar race in Nashville.

As Meyer Shank Racing’s Simon Pagenaud continues to recover from his nasty practice crash at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in early July, the No. 60 Honda will have another new driver for this coming Sunday afternoon’s IndyCar race at Nashville Street Circuit.

2022 Indy NXT (Lights) champion Linus Lundqvist is finally set to get the opportunity to make his IndyCar debut in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, the 13th of 17 races on the 2023 calendar.

Lundqvist, who won last year’s Indy Lights race on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee from the pole position, is set to become the third different driver to replace Pagenaud during the extended absence of the 2016 series champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner.

Conor Daly, who recently lost his ride with Ed Carpenter Racing, drove the No. 60 Honda at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and in the two races at Iowa Speedway, while Meyer Shank Racing IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Tom Blomqvist made his IndyCar debut in the No. 60 Honda on the streets of Toronto.

The 24-year-old Swedish driver has had a number of IndyCar testing opportunities, and now he is finally set to show what he can do on race day.

While Lundqvist has no confirmed starts beyond this coming weekend’s 80-lap race around the 11-turn, 2.17-mile (3.492-kilometer) temporary street circuit, this marks 13 consecutive seasons of the reigning Indy Lights champion landing some sort of an IndyCar opportunity the following year.

Not since Jean-Karl Vernay won the 2010 title has an Indy Lights champion not competed in IndyCar the following season.

Lundqvist won last year’s championship with five wins, four other podium finishes, and just one finish outside of the top five in 14 races.

NBC is set to broadcast Sunday afternoon’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix live from Nashville Street Circuit beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV today if you have not already done so!