SVG to “learn on the fly” at Indy

Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR race at Indianapolis is a far different proposition to the streets of Chicago, and SVG says he’ll have to be learning “on the fly”.

At a Trackhouse press session, the superstar Kiwi explained what his expectations are about rating on the Indianapolis Road course this Sunday.

“It’s going to be difficult, you can do as much Sim time as you want, but there’s only 20 minutes of practice this time,” SVG explained.

“For Chicago I had a little feeler at the Roval (Charlotte Motor Speedway) and then 30 minutes of practice.

“So there’s not many laps and only one set of tyres, and it’s also a track that everyone has done. Hopefully I’m going to be building up and getting better and getting a decent qualifying spot and out of any trouble for the race start.

“The race is long enough, so hopefully I’ll be picking it up by the end of the race. How I’ll fit in pace wise I’ve no idea…I watched the race from last year and there’s some guys that look like they’re really on it so I don’t know how I’ll fit in.”

SCG at the Trackhouse Racing base in Concord, North Carolina

After winning in Chicago, there’s plenty of expectations on his shoulders heading into Indy, but SVG say’s that for himself, he doesn’t carry any of that into this weekend.

“I guess it’s hard when you’ve won one to try and talk yourself down, but I don’t have any expectations personally,” he continued.

“Our prep work has gone really well and obviously I’m in a good car again that’s capable of winning, and if we get everything right, anything can happen!”

There’s also the fact that the restart situations are different than at the more cramped Chicago layout, whereas at the wider Indianapolis Road Course, there will be double file restarts with much more company to the side, front, and rear.

“Llike I said, it’s a track everyone knows and I’ll have to go through the double file restarts this time.

“And I know that the spot has changed where the restarts are this week, but it still looks crazy, and you’ll be arriving at Turn 1 in a massive pack of cars.

With the double stacking at restarts and for the race start at the Turn 1 right hander, SVG will be facing a new challenge with heavy traffic all around him

“It’s going to be on, and I don’t really know how to be in those situations, but I’ll have to learn on the fly. It’s pretty awesome to watch on TV, but I think being in it…I’m not sure that I’ll be thinking the same thing.

“It was easier at Chicago with the single file onto the straight and there weren’t big stack-ups at Turn 1, it was just that nature of that circuit, and you can see that this weekend it’s not going to be like that.

“Obviously my car still has the yellow stripes on the back and that stands out a bit, but I’ve still got a lot to learn, and restarts are going to be completely different.

“I expect there’s going to be a lot more action and I don’t expect to be out in front like in Chicago. It’s going to be a big fight I think.”

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