Van Gisbergen shocked the motor racing world earlier this month when he grew to become the first driver in modern NASCAR history to win on debut.
The sensational victory got here on the streets of Chicago with the Kiwi taking on the Undertaking 91 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 might 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 might be arduous to beat at Indy, even when his benefit over the sector will not be fairly as massive.
“I might say he’s the favorite getting in, for positive,” he mentioned.
“I might say that the hole might 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 might say going into Indy we should always all be inside two-to-three tenths, however he’ll nonetheless be the perfect man.”
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Improve Well being Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Van Gisbergen’s return to NASCAR comes amid fevered hypothesis that he’ll make a full-time swap to US inventory vehicles subsequent season.
He’s technically contracted to Triple Eight for the 2024 Supercars season, nevertheless is thought to be sad with the brand new Gen3 vehicles.
T8 boss Jamie Whincup indicated after the Chicago win that he wouldn’t stand in van Gisbergen’s way if a full-time NASCAR journey grew to become obtainable subsequent yr.
Van Gisbergen will not be the one Supercars driver within the Indy area 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 change into an acceptable check mule for NASCAR groups given the similarities with the current-gen Cup vehicles.
“We examined collectively our V8 Supercar that we’ve at RCR earlier this yr,” Busch defined. “He was there after we first went out and I feel he had me lined by about two seconds a lap after which because the day type of progressed, by the tip of the day, we really ran occasions that had been actual comparable and proper on prime of his.
“It simply took me some time to get used to these vehicles and what they’re and how one can actually assault corners. Simply numerous driving strategies that these vehicles take.
“However I feel these guys are all excellent at what they do, they usually actually perceive the heavy inventory automobile really feel and foundation for these street programs. So, I might assume that [Kostecki] might be sturdy as nicely.
“Hopefully I can lean on him and be taught so much from him and have a while within the sim and stuff like that with him that may enable us to be higher off after we get there.”