Alex Weaver talks with Shane van Gisbergen, Kamui Kobayashi and Brodie Kostecki ahead of Sunday's race. These three drivers help comprise one of the most talented and diverse fields in NASCAR history.
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00:00 [music]
00:07 Alex Weaver here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
00:34 And for the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, it's an incredibly stacked field with over
00:40 seven countries represented and several racing disciplines, including the return of a Chicago
00:45 Street Force winner.
00:47 All right, Shane.
00:49 So I have to imagine the return to NASCAR was expedited a little bit after you won in
00:55 Chicago.
00:56 So you're back here in Indianapolis, one of the hallowed grounds of motorsports.
00:59 How does it feel to be back in the NASCAR garage?
01:01 Pretty awesome.
01:02 First time here, seeing the scale of it, how massive it is.
01:05 And yeah, just excited to get back out on track.
01:08 But yeah, when Justin called, it was pretty hard to say no to come back and do another
01:13 one and excited to see how it goes.
01:15 Have you had any experience here on the road course?
01:17 I know you've obviously seen it now that we're here in the garage, but what's the prep been
01:23 looking like?
01:24 Yeah, never been here.
01:25 So we did some simulator stuff and got a couple of sessions of that.
01:29 But yeah, otherwise, no idea till I get out on track.
01:32 How many times have you been asked about the right and the left foot?
01:34 I imagine we're going to see some more of that this weekend, right?
01:37 Yeah, I guess.
01:38 But to me, it's normal.
01:39 So I don't understand it.
01:41 From the process from Chicago to here, what's it been like just having Justin Marks in your
01:46 corner, getting back on board with Track House?
01:48 How's that organization been treating you?
01:50 It's been awesome.
01:51 And we're hopefully trying to aim for something here next year.
01:54 And the opportunities Justin gave me with the track to come here again, it's been really
01:58 cool to be part of the Track House family.
02:01 Just enjoying myself and yeah, got to keep having fun, I guess.
02:05 Well, you brought it up, so I have to ask.
02:07 What are the plans for next year?
02:08 Do we know yet?
02:09 Are we getting you full time?
02:10 No, nothing yet.
02:11 So I don't know, trying to work it out in Australia.
02:14 If I can change the contract, if they can get a driver for next year that they're happy
02:18 with, then I can come here and try and work something else.
02:22 Would Track House want to be where you land?
02:24 Is that the goal?
02:25 I think so.
02:26 It's obviously all I know here, but with Justin and the team, how it all works.
02:29 It's been so much fun and everyone here is awesome, welcoming, and yeah, it's a good
02:34 place to be.
02:35 And obviously, I know you've looked at the stacked list in the field that we have here
02:39 for this weekend.
02:40 What do you think about all the countries represented?
02:42 You're one of those guys.
02:43 I think it's awesome.
02:44 And with Kamui joining, Jensen was at Chicago, and then my friend Brody.
02:48 Should be really cool to see how we all go, but I expect that all the regulars will be
02:53 super fast here, being that they've raced here the last couple of years.
02:56 And Brody has the points now in supercars.
02:58 I know he's, have you guys talked some smack?
03:01 Is there a bet that's going on?
03:02 What happens this weekend?
03:03 No, we're friends, so I'll be cheering for him.
03:05 I saw he planned to crash into me, he said, but I think he was joking.
03:09 But yeah, just for him to get an opportunity.
03:11 He grew up racing here, so I'm stoked to see him come here as well.
03:15 All right, Shane, well we're excited to have you back.
03:16 Welcome back to NASCAR.
03:17 Thanks for having me.
03:19 So SVG is making his NASCAR return, but making his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series representing Japan,
03:25 Kamui Kobayashi has linked up with 2311 Racing for Sunday's race.
03:30 All right, Kamui, we're excited to have you in the NASCAR Cup Series.
03:33 I know you're excited to be here at Indy, but what's the weekend like, been so far for you in NASCAR?
03:39 It's a quick week, actually.
03:40 I mean, we landed yesterday.
03:42 Oh.
03:43 We just did like a few media stuff, and then jump in the car.
03:47 We've already done the qualifying, and then now we're just heading to the race.
03:52 It's like, wow, surprise.
03:55 You know, normally, I think this time we still talk about the engineer, about how you do the setup,
04:01 you know, what are we going to do.
04:02 It's already, we have the race tomorrow.
04:04 I love it.
04:05 It's nice.
04:06 It's funny, but I talked to Jenson, that we'll meet in the bar, because we are done with our job today.
04:12 Yes.
04:13 So we meet in the bar and we talk about something fun.
04:15 You mentioned Jenson.
04:17 He's obviously another driver that's bringing that international flair to the field.
04:20 You're representing Japan.
04:22 What are you hoping to accomplish as far as the Japanese fan base that's watching you run this race this weekend?
04:28 You know, I mean, this race is very competitive, and honestly, I think the show is really,
04:34 the only one you can see show like this is NASCAR.
04:38 So I have to say, I think this is really the only one which would bring excitement in the race,
04:44 because, you know, I'm racing in still another category, like endurance races, open wheel.
04:49 You never fight.
04:51 You know, you just talk about how you manage the tires, how you, you know, to keep car clean.
04:56 That's it.
04:57 I mean, this is more fighting alone, you know, on the track with our car, about each other.
05:03 I think that's, it's great race and a great show.
05:06 As a driver, why not?
05:08 Well, we love that you brought this personality that you have here to this weekend.
05:12 How do we get more Japanese talent in NASCAR and in motorsports in general?
05:16 Yeah, I mean, for me, I have a lot of experience, but I have to say, I think to be success here,
05:21 you need learn a lot, and you need skill to driving like kind of different category,
05:27 maybe track or sprinting to try to understand more about car, you know, how you work in this kind of type of car,
05:35 the setup, with the engineer.
05:37 I think this makes it a good competition, you know, because I knew that there's a lot of fun driver,
05:43 but just we are coming from completely different world.
05:47 I think that's, you know, just we need to learn.
05:49 And I'm coming here to learn exactly what I need to do.
05:53 We'll see how it goes in the future.
05:55 And finally, obviously 2311, Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, it's such a fun organization.
06:01 How did you get the tie-in?
06:02 Was it the Toyota tie-in that brought you to this team this weekend?
06:05 Yeah, I mean, you know, thanks for this opportunity from Toyota 2311.
06:09 I mean, you know, I think to bring me here is a lot of work because, of course, lack of experience.
06:16 It's challenging for everyone, but I think they trust me being here.
06:21 And, you know, I think the racing is really good.
06:25 I had a good preparation here, so I thought I think it's going to be more bad,
06:29 but actually the qualifier was struggling a bit, but still all right because, you know, race is long.
06:34 I think here to learn a little bit more, so I think the target is winning.
06:39 No, no, target is for enjoy here.
06:42 And winning is not for me is important.
06:44 It's just, you know, to see how is racing is in Nascar.
06:48 So, yeah.
06:49 How long was the flight to get here? That's my final question.
06:52 It took like nearly one day from door to door.
06:55 One day worth of flying.
06:56 It's all right.
06:57 All right.
06:58 Well, we're glad to have you.
06:59 Good luck this weekend.
07:00 Yes, thank you very much.
07:01 And taking a page from Trackouts Racing Project 91 playbook,
07:05 RCR has tapped the Supercars points leader Brody Kostecki to challenge his old buddy, SVG.
07:12 All right, Brody.
07:13 So I gave your Supercars buddy, Shane, a welcome back to Nascar.
07:17 Obviously, I can say the same thing to you, but it's been a while.
07:20 You were in the K&N Series, what, nine years ago?
07:23 Does it feel good to be back in the Nascar Cup Garage?
07:25 Yeah, it feels like I've done a full circle.
07:28 I spent a lot of time here in the States when I was quite young,
07:33 racing Nascar late models and coming up through and doing a bit of K&N stuff.
07:36 So, yeah, it feels like I've done a full circle, which is pretty cool.
07:39 What does Indianapolis mean to you as a driver?
07:41 Walking in, I feel like this is hallowed grounds of motorsports,
07:44 so it has to be pretty cool that you're getting a shot here at Indy.
07:47 Yeah, it's pretty amazing.
07:49 I come here last year to the Indy 500 and couldn't believe how many people here.
07:53 Obviously, we're not here for the Indy 500 here this weekend,
07:56 but to do the doubleheader with IndyCar and also Xfinity being here as well,
08:00 and I just can't believe how many people are here.
08:02 And, yeah, just very thankful for the opportunity.
08:05 Well, ask Shane as well, obviously,
08:06 because you're leading the points in Supercars right now.
08:08 Ask if there's been any smack-talking.
08:11 Do we have a bet going?
08:12 He played really nice, but I need you to give me, like, the real dirt.
08:16 I wish there was real dirt, but, yeah, we're quite friendly off the track.
08:21 We've had some really good battles back home, but, yeah,
08:24 after my recent qualifying effort, we're not starting too close to each other.
08:27 So, yeah, got a bit of work to do to get up to him in the cup race tomorrow,
08:32 but, yeah, looking forward to it if I may.
08:35 And last but not least, this is obviously a very technical road course.
08:38 How have you prepped for this?
08:39 What's the prep been looking like leading up to this week?
08:42 Yeah, I think, you know, we didn't get too much practice then
08:45 with a little mishap with the car, but I must say I must thank everyone at Chevrolet
08:49 and everyone at the GM Tech Center for, you know, all the effort that they put into me,
08:53 spending a lot of time on the simulator there, which has paid off really well,
08:56 was on the pace straight away, just unfortunately made a small mistake that cost me quite dearly,
09:01 which has been unfortunate, but, yeah, just everyone at RCR have gave me every opportunity
09:06 and every tool to be organized and be prepared for my debut.
09:10 Well, we're glad to have you back in the States and back at NASCAR. Enjoy it.
09:13 Thank you.
09:14 And when you race at a place as historic as the Brickyard,
09:17 you bring out talent from all over the globe.
09:19 Make sure and tune in to the Verizon 200 for the NASCAR Cup Series on the Indianapolis Road Course,
09:24 2.30 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
09:26 [music]