Shane van Gisbergen Dominates Indianapolis Road Course, Secures second NASCAR Cup Series Victory
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – August 13, 2024 – Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing delivered a commanding performance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course today, winning the Verizon 200 and solidifying his status as a rising star in NASCAR. The New Zealand native took the lead on Lap 74 and never relinquished it, ultimately finishing 11.116 seconds ahead of runner-up Christopher Bell.
The 2024 Verizon 200, a 70-lap, 200-mile race, saw only three caution periods for a total of 13 laps.Chris Buescher finished third,followed by William Byron and Chase Briscoe,completing the top five. The race featured 36 drivers competing for a $3.8 million purse.
Van Gisbergen’s victory marks his fifth career win in just 38 NASCAR Cup Series starts. He now ranks among the top active drivers on road and street courses, trailing only Chase Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six). This win comes after Trackhouse Racing announced a multiyear contract extension for van Gisbergen last week, demonstrating their confidence in the driver’s potential.
Van Gisbergen’s No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 consistently posted fast lap times throughout the race, with a fastest lap of 1:32.888 on lap 66. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course is a 2.439-mile, 14-turn circuit.
Ty Gibbs faces Frustration and Team Criticism
The race was marred by frustration for Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs. Gibbs spun John Hunter Nemechek late in Stage 2, resulting in a 33rd-place finish. He repeatedly voiced concerns over the handling of his no. 54 Toyota and the race strategy employed by his team. competition director Chris Gabehart, who also serves as a strategist for Gibbs, responded sharply to the driver’s criticism over the team radio.
“I’m sure you’ve got a real good understanding from inside the car,” Gabehart stated, “So you can call the strategy if you want, or we can keep rolling.” The exchange highlighted tensions within the team as gibbs continues to seek his first cup Series win after transitioning from the Xfinity Series, where he won the 2022 championship. Teammates Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell have already secured playoff berths with victories this season.
Looking Ahead: Richmond Raceway
The NASCAR Cup Series will next travel to Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, for a race on Saturday, August 16. This will be the track’s sole NASCAR Cup Series event of the 2024 season. The 0.75-mile D-shaped oval previously hosted two annual Cup Series races from 1959 to 2024. The race is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on USA Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90), and streamed on the NBC Sports app.
