Unlucky Van Gisbergen taken out in Chicago

The dream of Shane van Gisbergen winning back to back Chicago Street Races is over early after contact sent him into the fence in docile conditions.

Van Gisbergen was the red-hot favourite and was doing everything right, charging from fifth to first in the opening stage, but the race was turned upside down by a huge shower during the break.

SVG lost ground on pit road and restarted fifth and was carefully tiptoeing around the track, only to be taken out.

As the Kiwi completed the left handed turn 6, behind him Chase Briscoe aquaplaned out of control and during his collision course to the tyre barrier he clipped the rear of the #16 Kaulig Racing driver.

Van Gisbergen was helpless as the contact fired him hard into the outside concrete.

With significant damage and the concrete barrier being moved, SVG’s dream of back to back NASCAR Cup Series wins was over after just 26 of 75 laps in the Grant Park 165.

The race is now red flagged with officials trying to dry the soaked street circuit.

“I just turned in and looked pretty good then just got smashed by someone, it is gutting,” van Gisbergen said.

“The Wnedys Saucy Nugs car was really fast. We were in the lead for a lot of that race and i felt good taking off in the rain. I felt like i was driving within myself so a shame I am out early.

“That sucks. Unfortunate mistake by him and I am sure he did not mean it, but just clipped me and nothing I could do.”

The flashbacks to 2023 were almost instant with the start delayed for almost an hour due to wet weather.

When racing finally began, Ty Gibbs charged into the lead as poleman Larson had a slow start and dropped to third with Reddick also going past.

Van Gisbergen slipped a spot to sixth before he made a big dive on McDowell to reclaim fifth at the end of the first lap at turn 11, but the Kiwi made more big moves on Lap 2.

Having pounced on Bowman at Turn 7, SVG then stole third from Larson four corners later to sit in the top three.

After the early moves the race settled down with Gibbs leading a single file train.

After hounding the back of Reddick, van Gisbergen made his first move on Lap 7 and did it perfectly.

He caught the #45 napping at Turn 2 to steal second, whilst Larson, Bell and Briscoe also picked him off to demote the Toyota outside the top five.

Van Gisbergen was now hunting Gibbs with the best part of a second the difference.

As they were battling, there were reports of rain at turns 9-12 and McDowell stopped for wets from eighth, while Martin Truex Jr was the first to make the change on Lap 2, but their gambles did not pay off.

By Lap 12 lapped traffic was already a factor and a slow moving Preece slowed Gibbs and put van Gisbergen on his bumper.

The Kiwi sensed his moment at Turn 11 and forced his way down the inside.

With Briscoe slowing Gibbs on the outside, the #54 had nowhere to go at the final corner, whilst van Gisbergen had a clear run on the inside down pit straight and he was able to charge into the lead.

As the #16 quickly skipped a second away, things got worse for Gibbs as Bell also snatched second.

However, two laps later Bell suddenly caught and passed Van Gisbergen as he battled lapped traffic.

But the #20 only led for two corners before the Kiwi slipped back underneath at Turn 2.

Their battle took place just before the first caution on Lap 16 for Corey LaJoise, who had a big spin at Turn 5.

The stoppage arrived at a good time as the rain became set in, leaving the field behind the Safety Car for the remainder of the stage, which was SVG’s first Cup Series stage victory.

With the track saturated and field still on slicks, van Gisbergen believed it would be “near underivable” in the pits as puddles started to appear.

SVG dropped to fifth in the pits and when racing resumed in docile conditions with early pitter Zane Smith leading the way, but Gibbs got a much better exit of the first corner and charged ahead.

There was drama straight away with Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez coming together out of turn 1, but more drama was further ahead.

At the end of ST Columbus Drive, Briscoe lost control and speared into the tyres and taking out SVG along the way.

With the red flag being waved and the rain hammering down, it is unclear how long the Chicago Street Race will be delayed for.

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION DIGITAL HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.