The three-time Supercars champ is making his NASCAR oval debut in Friday’s Truck Sequence playoff-opener at IRP, driving the No. 41 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado.
He accomplished 16 laps in observe, posting a quick lap of 24.125s, rating twelfth out of the 19 vehicles in Group A observe. His time on monitor was abbreviated by battery points, in addition to a number of pink flags that interrupted the session. He ended up thirty second total on the pace charts.
Van Gisbergen spoke with Fox Sports activities 1 (FS1) after his quarter-hour of observe was full, nevertheless it proved troublesome to listen to because the second group of vehicles ripped across the 0.686-miles quick monitor.
“I don’t know what you simply stated,” he stated with a smile.” They’re so noisy — this stuff with no mufflers. I had fun. Simply getting used to it. Clearly did not get probably the most out of the brand new tire however on the finish, I felt that I used to be half-competitive. It is so totally different, like the way in which it turns into the nook and hundreds up. I received lots to study.”
Qualifying enchancment
In qualifying, Van Gisbergen ran a 23.834s on Lap 1, however bettered it by over three tenths to a 23.527s on Lap 2. His time was 0.643s off the pole time set by Christian Eckes.
He ended up twenty eighth of the 37 vehicles that put down a time, and can begin on the surface of Row 14.
“It is powerful,” he instructed FS1 after his qualifying run. “It is simply all instinctive and reacting to it. First lap, I did not get probably the most out of it and anticipated a bit a lot. I had a giant slide out of Flip 2 onto the backstraight. Simply getting used to it. Then the second lap, I did not know what to anticipate. Had an superior time getting higher. Appears like I’ll be proper in the course of all of it firstly, so it should be fascinating.”
He later added: “I am having a ball. Simply studying a lot each lap and hopefully we’ll get some lengthy runs within the race so I can get in a rhythm and simply study lots tonight.”
