NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The history that has molded the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will join the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls for an unforgettable weekend, July 18-19. As fans enjoy the thrilling speed of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the competition of INDY NXT by Firestone, they will have the opportunity to view decades of history on track. The iconic cars of the past celebrate over a century of open-wheel racing with a complete fan experience.
For the third consecutive year, Vintage Indy will be a part of the action at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls on the oval of Nashville Superspeedway. This will be the sixth year Vintage Indy has accompanied the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls, with three years on the streets of Nashville and three years on the action-packed oval of Nashville Superspeedway.
For ten years, Vintage Indy has been committed to the preservation and exhibition of “Indianapolis Championship Cars,” showcasing INDYCAR vehicles from the early 20th century and the sleek, record-breaking cars of the modern era. Vintage Indy President, Michael Lashmett, organizes vintage car collectors across the United States to come together for the education of new fans and car enthusiasts alike. As a career outside of motorsport transitioned into retirement, Michael Lashmett returned to his passion for racing.
“I attended the Historic Racing Exhibition event in Indianapolis in 2016. They had 103 vintage cars there on track, and it’s like the light bulb went off. Where did these all come from? I quickly discerned that these were in the hands of not only museums but private collectors,” said Lashmett. “Some people have one car; we have members that have as many as 25 and 30 vintage Indy cars in their collection. Further investigation discovered there was no organization around any of this, so we came up with the idea to start the Vintage Indy Registry.”
The centennial running of the Indianapolis 500 was the spark that moved Vintage Indy from an idea into reality. For ten years, Vintage Indy has championed the preservation of these antique vehicles. Members from across the United States contribute cars from personal collections for the education of new race fans and car enthusiasts alike. One contributor is a titan in his own right and has been a force for INDYCAR racing in Music City.
Scott Borchetta, Chairman and founder of Borchetta Bourbon, is a longtime friend of Lashmett. The two share the same passion for these marvels of technology. From the moment he attended his first race at eight-years-old, Borchetta has been enamored by the power and speed of racing machines. Today, Borchetta showcases cars from his own collection for race fans to witness the greatness of those who raced before the 21st century.
“When you look at these older cars and how raw they are compared to what we race today, those guys were gladiators,” said Borchetta. “If you are a car fan of any type, to see the evolution of what these cars can do now and what they were doing then, it’s a beautiful history and I’m all about the history.”
Photo Credit: Brian Hart
When the time came for the inaugural grand prix in Music City, there was no question that Vintage Indy should be a part of the festivities. The collaborative efforts of Borchetta and Lashmett have trailblazed the preservation of INDYCAR history. Each shares the mission of ensuring future generations of race fans can witness the glory of the past.
“When you are a fan and you see a car that Mario Andretti drove, or that A.J. Hoyt and Helio (Castroneves) drove, any of our heroes, seeing those cars brings back all of those great memories of those great races and great drivers and great cars,” said Scott Borchetta. “We want to give people as much entertainment for their dollar as we possibly can. Whether it is music, cars, bourbon, whatever it is, we just want people to come out and have a great time.”
Race fans will have two opportunities to watch these antiques in action throughout the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls during parade lap sessions around Nashville Superspeedway. Each carefully restored car highlights a chapter in racing’s expansive history, combining the past and present at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls. Approximately 20 historic Indy cars are set to appear on track during the weekend. The collection is expected to include such legendary vehicles as the No. 98 Ol’ Calhoun Roadster of Parnelli Jones, the No. 4 Pennzoil Lola John Andretti and Mario Andretti’s No. 6 Newman Haas Kmart Lola.
The preservation of INDYCAR’s history does not stop at the machines. All Vintage Indy on-track sessions will be paced by two-time INDYCAR champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. Unser, son of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr., showcases the determination and talent the drivers that piloted these cars possessed. Unser Jr. is one of many drivers that, when man and machine connected, created magic on the track.
When Michael Lashmett founded Vintage Indy, he coined the phrase “We bring the history.” For a decade, that is exactly what the members of Vintage Indy have done. The preservation of vintage championship Indianapolis cars is vital to motorsport. The legacy that Vintage Indy, and members like Scott Borchetta, protects will allow racing fans for generations to see and appreciate the Golden Age racing as the sport catapults into a new great age of competition.
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls will take place July 18-19 at Nashville Superspeedway. The weekend includes a concert by headliner deadmau5 and a one-of-a-kind watch party for the final World Cup match on July 19. The vintage cars will first appear on track on Saturday, July 18 at noon CT. The final Vintage Indy session will take place on Sunday at 11:00 am CT, helping set the stage for one of racing’s most unique weekends.
