Ross Chastain says these inside Trackhouse Racing weren’t stunned by Shane van Gisbergen’s breakout run within the Coca-Cola 600.
Van Gisbergen spent a lot of the rain-shortened race inside the highest 10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and even led 11 laps in what was among the best oval performances of his NASCAR profession to date.
Whereas some exterior the staff have continued to query the New Zealander’s oval racing skill, Chastain stated he’s by no means doubted what his teammate might do as soon as the automobile beneath him was aggressive.
Picture by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
Ross Chastain says Shane van Gisbergen can ‘discover the restrict’
Van Gisbergen began third after qualifying was cancelled resulting from rain, with the grid as a substitute set by the qualifying metric from the earlier weekend at Watkins Glen.
The Trackhouse Racing driver made the many of the robust beginning place, selecting up stage factors in every of the primary three phases and working close to the entrance for many of the occasion.
Chastain stated the efficiency mirrored what the Trackhouse organisation already believed about Van Gisbergen’s expertise degree.
“I’m not stunned,” Chastain stated.
“We’re all attempting to determine what our Trackhouse automobiles need and wish for us to drive them.”
Chastain additionally pushed again in opposition to criticism surrounding Van Gisbergen’s skill on high-speed oval circuits.
“Individuals can downplay his oval, banking racing. It’s not true. He can drive a automobile. He can discover the restrict.”
Shane van Gisbergen delivered strongest oval displaying but
Van Gisbergen’s tempo remained among the many strongest within the area for a lot of the race as Trackhouse Racing continued adjusting the automobile all through the altering monitor circumstances.
The No. 97 Chevrolet reportedly began out tight however improved because the monitor cooled later within the night.
A technique gamble throughout one warning interval additionally briefly elevated Van Gisbergen into second place earlier than older tyres ultimately brought about him to slide backwards.
Regardless of finally ending eleventh, the race was broadly considered as one other main step ahead in Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR growth on ovals.
Chastain believes the New Zealander’s ceiling stays even larger as soon as the staff continues refining its setups.
“I preserve saying, when the automobile is true he’ll have the ability to put it there. It positively isn’t a surprise to me.”
