Van Gisbergen and Kostecki set for NASCAR ‘Brickyard’ battle
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 20 July 2023
Shane van Gisbergen will make his second NASCAR Cup Series as early as next month at the Indianapolis road course race.
Ironically after bumping doors for the win in a famous Perth Supercars race in May, van Gisbergen and Brodie Kostecki will find themselves racing Camaros on the other side of the world in America.
Two days after Kostecki’s NASCAR Cup Series debut with Richard Childress Racing was announced, it has come to light his Kiwi champion rival will join him at the “Brickyard”.
In addition to racing against the NASCAR Cup Series regulars, the Supercars stars will also find themselves taking on former Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Kamui Kobayashi, who both raced the United States Grand Pric when it was held on the Indianapolis road course.
Shane van Gisbergen and Brodie Kostecki will take their rivarly to NASCAR at Indianapolis next month. Image: EDGE Photography
Van Gisbergen was the talk of the entire NASCAR world when he became the first driver in six decades to win on Cup Series debut on the streets of Chicago.
Even before the three-time champion turned America upside down and won, major sponsor Enhance Health proclaimed to AUTO ACTION future drivers were already in the works.
Shane van Gisbergen and Brodie Kostecki will go racing at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo by Phillip Abbott / LAT Images
The first return arrived earlier than anticipated with Trackhouse Racing expanding its Project 91 campaign to three races after Kimi Raikkonen drove at Texas and van Gisbergen’s Chicago triumph.
Van Gisbergen is honoured to return to receive another chance to take the NASCAR world by storm.
Shane van Gisbergen performs a trademark burnout to salute a stunning NASCAR Cup Series win at Chicago. Photo by LAT Images
“I never dreamed this could have all rolled out this way,” he said.
“Just getting to race in NASCAR is an opportunity I never thought I would get, but then to win and get another chance this year is beyond anything I imagined.
“I can’t thank (Trackhouse founder and owner) Justin Marks, everyone at Trackhouse Racing and NASCAR for this opportunity.
“Everyone in NASCAR welcomed me to Chicago and it’s been awesome to see how big the reception from that race has been around the world.
“I am honoured to be part of it.”
Shane van Gisbergen in his #91 NASCAR on the streets of Chicago.
It is a tantalising opportunity for the three-time Supercars champion to build his momentum and further enhance his reputation in North America as he hopes to one day race full time in the States.
The kiwi raised eyebrows by topping his maiden competitive session in a NASCAR before qualifying third.
In the race he spent the majority of the opening stages up front, before finding himself down in 18th in the final stint after pitting for fresh tyres.
Van Gisbergen got by Justin Haley in a thrilling duel that was not decided until overtime.
Team owner Marks admitted as soon as the Supercars star won in Chicago, he wanted to do it all again.
Shane van Gisbergen and the Trackhouse team celebrate their famous Chicago win. Photo by John K Harrelson / NKP / LAT Images
“After a performance like that it’s only natural to want to keep this going,” said Marks.
“Shane showed he is a world-class talent and what he did in Chicago was truly remarkable.
“PROJECT91, Trackhouse Racing and the fans of NASCAR benefit by bringing him back. I don’t think I am being overly dramatic when I say the entire motorsports world will be watching the #91 Chevrolet at Indianapolis.”
With two of the biggest Supercars stars facing off at the “Brickyard” every motorsport fan on both sides of the Tasman will be glued to their screens when the NASCAR Indy road course race takes place on Sunday, August 13.
For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
Auto Action, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.
PODCAST: The latest episode of the Auto Action RevLimiter podcast is out now!
This week we look at Brodie Kostecki going to NASCAR (is Supercars no longer a destination class?) and continue with the chat around Supercars Parirty as a test day is washed out, again. Targa Tasmania has been shut down, and S5000s are running a “demonstration” – not a race – at the Bathurst International.
Listen on your podcast app of choice or here on the Auto Action RevLimiter podcast.
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