The Chicago street race is knocking at the door, and drivers are getting ready to put in their best. NASCAR driver Shane van Gisbergen speaks about the race course in Chicago in an interview with Frontstretch.
Van Gisbergen faces the brutal truth about the Chicago race course and highlights its complexity, prompting him to stress the necessity of making zero mistakes. With his 2023 victory still fresh in fans’ minds, all eyes are on whether he can repeat his magic on the unforgiving street circuit.
Shane Van Gisbergen Speaks About the Chicago Street Race
SVG, as he is popularly known, currently drives for Trackhouse Racing in the No. 88 Chevrolet ZL1. He is also a part-time racer in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving for JR Motorsports in the No. 9 Chevrolet SS.
Van Gisbergen also has experience in the Supercars series in Australia, having won the championship three times in 2016, 2021, and 2022. His transition from Australian racing to NASCAR has been one of the most successful international crossovers in recent memory. As the race in Chicago approaches, van Gisbergen speaks about the intricacy of the track in Chicago, where he faces a brutal truth, explaining the factor of no room for error.
The street course presents unique challenges that separate it from traditional oval racing. Unlike permanent road courses, there’s no margin for error when concrete barriers line every turn. One small mistake can end a driver’s day instantly, making precision more important than raw speed.
In the interview, van Gisbergen said, “It’s bit like Gold Coast in some ways, like the 90-degree corners and stuff. Adelaide and some sections, but yeah, it’s different in its own way. The hardest part here is the no runoff. Like, turn one and turn five going straight into a wall at the biggest breaking zones is pretty daunting.”
He went on to explain the complexity of the track, “So yeah, normally you have runoff in the in the tricky corners. So, that’s probably the hardest part about this place.”
Then, van Gisbergen explained about the design of the track, focusing on the difficulty of racing on that track, “Yeah. I don’t know. It’s very challenging. It’s difficult, but nothing out of the ordinary, I guess.”
His experience racing on street circuits in Australia gives him a unique perspective that most NASCAR drivers don’t have. The Gold Coast and Adelaide circuits he mentioned are notoriously difficult, requiring the same precision and mental toughness that Chicago demands.
However, for the racer, it’s not the first time in Chicago. He won the Chicago street race in 2023, and his phenomenal victory provided a strong foundation for his career in NASCAR. That win marked his first Cup Series victory and announced his arrival as a legitimate contender in American racing.
Special Memories and Future Goals
Van Gisbergen also has some fond memories of the track, as he said, “This place is pretty cool to me every time I come back. I hate cities, so I don’t really like the place, but when you get here, it’s pretty cool. You know, I got great memories here. This place has changed my life. So, I’m going to have special memories of this place forever. So, but yeah, not enough grass for me”
Then, van Gisbergen went on to speak about a potential second win at Chicago: “Someone brought that up the other day, but I don’t try not to think about those things. You know, we want a race, which is extremely hard to do here. And yeah, we just got to focus on our own thing, and it should work out. We’ll be fine.”
His measured approach shows the maturity that comes with experience. Rather than getting caught up in expectations, he’s focusing on the process and execution that made him successful in 2023.
Fans are wondering who will conquer the track, as most are cheering for SVG. Speculation is running rampant, with many wondering who can defeat van Gisbergen and who is the community’s top choice.