Newgarden starts ninth on his hometown track – with Chip Ganassi Racing rival Palou going from fourth – as he bids to reduce the 80-point deficit in the season's closing stages.
“Not a great qualifying session for us,” Newgarden admitted to NBC Peacock after qualifying was topped by his team-mate Scott McLaughlin.
“We’ll work from the top 10 there and make some magic in the race, that’s the best thing we can do.
“It’s Nashville, so you never know what can happen. You can have a nightmare day and still win this race.
“That’s what’s happened the last two years. I think as soon as you predict that, it doesn’t go that way, but you just never know.
“You’ve gotta go in with a good attitude and I think we’ve got the team to do it every time, so let’s see what happens.”
Palou and Newgarden have each won four races this year, but all of Newgarden’s success has come on ovals, whereas Palou’s victories have come on road and street courses.
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The Spaniard used a reverse strategy to his rivals in the Firestone Fast Six shootout, opting for fresh primary tyres rather than running again on used, softer alternate rubber.
“We thought it was the way to go for our car and our strategy,” said Palou. “We tried it at Road America as well and it didn’t work. Someday it will work!
Source: Autosport