IndyCar gets up to speed in downtown Nashville

Drivers and IndyCar fans alike are sure to get their money's worth of thrills, and perhaps spills for the former, at this weekend's Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville.

The new venue's track design that is hosting the 12th round of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series gave everyone a wild ride on Friday, with the double crossing of the scenic Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Cumberland River a landmark feature of the crazy street track.

Despite the circuit's rather violent and bumpy nature, as Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward found out in practice, drivers were over-excited about the prospect of racing on the 11-turn, 2.2-mile layout.

"Man, it’s violent," said O’Ward, who was the first driver to crash to hit the track's walls.

"Going into Turn 4, the bumps are very violent. I mean, you’re going through there and the wheel is like getting knocked out of your hands.

"It’s very unique. It’s unlike any other place we go to, for sure. What a cool track!"

Andretti Autosport's Colton Herta, who went fastest on Friday, was equally impressed by Nashville's bumps but believed the rocky ride "adds character".

"I thought the bridge was going to be bumpy, but I didn’t expect coming off the bridge to be quite that bumpy," Herta said.

"But it’s not a negative thing. I think it adds character to the track."

Sunday's festivities will kick off at 5:30pm ET, or 11:30pm UK.