Van Gisbergen, who makes his second NASCAR Cup begin this weekend on the Indianapolis Highway Course for Trackhouse, watched his {old} sparring associate McLaughlin in Chevrolet’s simulator this week, as his fellow Kiwi ready for his IndyCar factor of the double-header weekend.
McLaughlin defeated van Gisbergen of their final three seasons racing collectively in Supercars and since then he has gained back-to-back titles Down Below, as Scott switched to Team Penske’s IndyCar workforce.
“It could be cool to have him be a part of,” mentioned van Gisbergen of getting McLaughlin into NASCAR. “He ought to’ve achieved a wildcard this weekend.
“[On Tuesday] he was on the simulator after I was, so that they invited me to sit-in on his session and I acquired to hear for a bit and watch how he was driving and the way that facet of issues work. It was very cool to see and it’s superior to be in an identical world to him once more.
“We went for lunch on my final journey [to America] and he was simply so encouraging about coming over right here giving it a crack. So, sure, it’s superior to be round him once more.”
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing
Photograph by: Owlpine Group
McLaughlin mentioned it was fascinating to see the variations between their equipment across the Indianapolis highway course of their respective Chevrolet-powered vehicles.
“I felt it was cool to have him right here, come into our session, simply watch me race round for a little bit bit, it was humorous to see the variations between a NASCAR and an IndyCar – he was laughing at that,” mentioned McLaughlin.
“It’s thrilling to have him racing on the identical weekend, I believe he’s going to leap on our pit stand in our periods or the race. Tremendous cool to be racing once more on the identical weekend as him and Brodie [Kostecki]. It’s going to be superior.”
McLaughlin cannot keep to observe van Gisbergen’s Cup race at Indy on Sunday, as he is flying to New York to choose up his canine, however says he is blissful to indicate van Gisbergen across the IndyCar paddock.
He added: “It should be superior. I do not know the way a lot time he’ll have. I do know he mentioned he was going to pop previous a good bit, verify all of it out.
“He is a racer, man. He loves it. Between his Truck and his Cup, he’ll be out right here and supporting us the place he can. I do know Brodie is identical.
“Tremendous excited to see these guys.”
Scott McLaughlin, Group Penske Chevrolet
Photograph by: Gavin Baker / Motorsport Images
Van Gisbergen mentioned he was trying ahead to seeing his first IndyCar motion within the flesh because it final visited Australia’s Gold Coast in 2008, when Ryan Briscoe scored a house win for Penske.
“Clearly they’re racing on Saturday after our qualifying, and so they’ve invited me to go and watch the race on the pitbox which can be superior,” mentioned van Gisbergen.
“I haven’t seen an IndyCar race since they have been in Surfers [Paradise] in 2008, so it’s going to be superior to go and watch him and see Scott Dixon race as nicely.
“It’s simply cool to be part of it, and it’s been nice to observe IndyCar the final couple of years, cheering him on, and that sequence appears to be like superior how aggressive it’s. These guys are on the high of their sport, and I’m trying ahead to seeing how that works as nicely.”