Van Gisbergen shocked the motor racing world earlier this month when he grew to become the primary driver in trendy NASCAR historical past to win on debut.
The sensational victory got here on the streets of Chicago with the Kiwi taking up the Project91 entry at Trackhouse Racing.
It has now been confirmed that the Supercars common will return to the Cup fold for the Indianapolis street course race subsequent month.
That will likely be a distinct problem for van Gisbergen given the Cup regulars having expertise on the monitor, whereas Chicago was new for everyone.
Road circuits are additionally very acquainted to van Gisbergen with 4 of them on the present Supercars schedule.
Nonetheless, Richard Childress Racing driver Busch stays satisfied that van Gisbergen will likely be exhausting to beat at Indy, even when his benefit over the sector will not be fairly as massive.
Race winner Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Images
“I’d say he’s the favorite entering into, for positive,” he stated.
“I’d say that the hole will likely be nearer from Chicago to the remainder of the sector that he had. He had us all beat by six-to-eight tenths of a second a lap.
“I’d say going into Indy we should always all be inside two-to-three tenths, however he’ll nonetheless be the most effective man.”
Van Gisbergen’s return to NASCAR comes amid fevered hypothesis that he’ll make a full-time swap to US inventory automobiles subsequent season.
He’s technically contracted to Triple Eight for the 2024 Supercars season, nevertheless is understood to be sad with the brand new Gen3 automobiles.
T8 boss Jamie Whincup indicated after the Chicago win that he would not stand in van Gisbergen’s manner if a full-time NASCAR trip grew to become out there subsequent yr.Van Gisbergen will not be the one Supercars driver within the Indy subject with Brodie Kostecki set to make his Cup Sequence debut in a 3rd RCR entry.
Busch is anticipating Kostecki to be an asset to the squad for the race, primarily based on a joint check they undertook earlier this yr in a Holden Commodore Supercar that is owned by RCR within the States.
Supercars have turn out to be an appropriate check mule for NASCAR groups given the similarities with the current-gen Cup automobiles.
“We examined collectively our V8 Supercar that we’ve got at RCR earlier this yr,” Busch defined. “He was there after we first went out and I believe he had me lined by about two seconds a lap after which because the day form of progressed, by the tip of the day, we really ran occasions that have been actual comparable and proper on high of his.
“It simply took me some time to get used to these automobiles and what they’re and how one can actually assault corners. Simply numerous driving methods that these automobiles take.
“However I believe these guys are all superb at what they do, they usually actually perceive the heavy inventory automobile really feel and foundation for these street programs. So, I’d assume that [Kostecki] will likely be robust as effectively.
“Hopefully I can lean on him and study rather a lot from him and have a while within the sim and stuff like that with him that can permit us to be higher off after we get there.”
Race winner Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
