Shane van Gisbergen’s hopes for consecutive victories at the Chicago Street Course were dashed on Sunday afternoon as he exited the Grant Park 165 on Lap 26 following a collision.
Van Gisbergen’s No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet was involved in an incident with Chase Briscoe’s No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford during Stage 2. Briscoe’s car lost control in Turn 6, slamming into the tire barrier and subsequently clipping van Gisbergen’s vehicle. The impact launched van Gisbergen into the wall, causing severe damage to the right side and prematurely ending his race. He finished in 40th place.
Before the crash, van Gisbergen had a strong performance, winning Stage 1 and leading nine laps. At the time of the incident, he was positioned within the top five.
“I just sort of turned in; it looked pretty good and then just got smacked by someone,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s gutting. The No. 16 Wendy’s Saucy Nuggs Camaro was really good. We were in the lead for a lot of that race. I felt good taking off in the rain, so that sucks. It’s an unfortunate mistake by him. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. But yeah, when he just clipped me, there wasn’t anything I could do.”
The three-time Supercars champion had high hopes for the race after a stellar performance in the previous year and a win in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race. However, his No. 16 Chevrolet was towed back with significant right-front suspension damage, marking an early end to his day.
“Of course I’m disappointed,” van Gisbergen remarked. “We had a really amazing Camaro there. Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse Racing gave us a great car. We were able to lead, and I felt like I was driving well with it, so yeah, it’s a shame to be out so early. It’s a shame we couldn’t have a proper crack at it at the end.”
The race began under challenging conditions, with a mix of drivers on slick and wet Goodyear tires due to rain that started just as the command to fire engines was given. This unpredictable weather added an extra layer of difficulty for all competitors.
“It was fun. On slicks, it got a bit dodgy. I hated being the leader,” van Gisbergen added. “Whoever was the leader, you could see them slowing up, not knowing what the condition would be. As soon as you got to the front, you were unsure of what was happening and had to take it a bit easy. But yeah, I had a lot of fun until then.”
Despite the setback, van Gisbergen’s skill and competitive spirit remain evident, promising more thrilling performances in the future.
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