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FOX's decision to follow up the World Cup final with the IndyCar Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix spectacularly backfired after extra time and bad weather forced the race to be postponed until Monday.
Sunday saw the World Cup come to a close with Spain celebrating a 1-0 win after defeating Argentina in extra time. The game was not a pretty one, with Lionel Scaloni's side doing all it could to spoil the occasion until Ferran Torres' goal in the 106th minute broke the deadlock and Argentine hearts.
Following the match, there was plenty of drama involving Argentina's players, who threw punches at Spain's stars on the pitch at MetLife Stadium, and U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to invade the trophy lift celebrations. However, the extra time drama also handed FOX, the World Cup broadcasters, a big headache.
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FOX had hoped to follow Sunday's World Cup final with IndyCar coverage at Nashville Superspeedway, only to find its plan lay in tatters due to the extended time slot and bad weather.
Originally scheduled to begin around 5:35 pm EST, the extra time pushed the start back by well over an hour. And then after that, FOX was dealt another blow after rain and lightning hit Nashville, further delaying the start time.
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Efforts were made to dry the track out, only for another big rain shower to hit Nashville before 9 pm EST. And at that point, IndyCar officials determined the race would need to be postponed until Monday (July 20).
The distance of Monday's race, which gets underway at 3:05 pm EST, has also been reduced to 225 laps due to the forecast excessive heat. It was originally planned to be 300-laps.
When the race gets going, Kyle Kirkwood will be starting from pole, with him hoping to cut four-time reigning champion Alex Palou's 55-point lead atop the IndyCar standings.
Speaking after winning pole, Kirkwood said: "It's going to be hot, it's going to be physical - not only for me as a driver, but everyone on pit lane for two-plus hours."
Palou, who will start fourth, meanwhile, likely enjoyed Sunday's race being postponed. The 29-year-old hails from Spain, with his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, uploading a video of him celebrating his country's World Cup final win on social media.
"Just incredible just to be able to win the World Cup," Palou told FOX during the delay.
