Chicago Takeaways: SVG Wins, Controversial Finish, Tempers & Possible NASCAR Return

NASCAR Cup Series Chicago Takeaways: SVG Wins, Controversial Finish, Tempers & Possible NASCAR Return

CHICAGO, Ill. phcash11 register — Shane van Gisbergen made a bit of history once again on Sunday in the city where he first made a significant mark. The New Zealand driver, who clinched the inaugural Chicago street race during his Cup debut in 2023, celebrated his second win in three years at the track. He held a comfortable lead over Ty Gibbs when caution was called on the final lap Sunday afternoon.

Known as SVG, he became only the second driver to sweep an Xfinity and Cup weekend by winning both races from the pole position, joining Kyle Busch, who achieved the feat at Indianapolis in 2016. With this third victory, he now stands as the most-winning foreign-born driver in NASCAR Cup Series history.

“This place has changed my life,” said van Gisbergen, a three-time Australian Supercars champion who admits he isn’t fond of city life, preferring open spaces and grass. “I didn’t plan on racing in more NASCAR events when I first came here, and I never imagined I’d be competing in NASCAR full-time.”

Rain barely fell on the cars just minutes after the checkered flag waved. Here are the main takeaways from a largely dry Chicago race:

Controversial Caution

As van Gisbergen was completing his next-to-last lap, Cody Ware blew a brake rotor, leading to a hard collision with the Turn 6 tire barrier. NASCAR did not throw the caution until van Gisbergen had already crossed the start-finish line and taken the white flag.

Since he crossed under the white flag, the final lap was counted as completed under caution, making the race official. Had the caution come out before he received the white flag, there would have been an overtime restart and a two-lap sprint to the finish. The decision not to call caution was made after NASCAR officials observed other drivers able to move their cars after hitting the barrier, and they were unaware of how severe Ware’s impact was. lucky 99

“I came out of the last corner and just saw a massive cloud of smoke ahead of Turn 6, and I just held my breath until I crossed the line,” van Gisbergen recalled. “When I got the white flag, I rounded the next couple of corners and the yellow came out. It was a huge relief.”

Ty Gibbs, who finished second, and Tyler Reddick in third, both expressed they would have liked another opportunity to challenge van Gisbergen on a restart. “I would have been all for that 100%, but … I don’t know if it should have been thrown,” Gibbs said, referring to the caution.

Angry Drivers

Tempers flared, as is often the case on road courses. This was even more prevalent on street courses, where there is limited room for error.

Joey Logano appeared the angriest, confronting Ross Chastain for several minutes post-race. As he left the track, Logano claimed that Chastain had admitted to intentionally turning him, arguing that he should face a fine pesobet casino. What angered Logano further was that it was actually Austin Cindric who initiated the incident.

“Typical Ross betso88 online casino login. He just sees red and makes poor decisions,” Logano stated. “That’s the second time this year on road courses I’ve been affected by Ross at the end of these races. I’m tired of it.”

Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman also chatted after an incident near the race’s conclusion. “He shipped us into Turn 12, sent us into the fence in Turn 1, and then ran us into the fence off Turn 2,” Bowman said. “We just sort of bounced off each other, and he ended up worse off. We were simply trying to exit the corner straight. I didn’t expect that to happen.”

These drivers are likely not to forget the race anytime soon, especially with another road course event approaching at Sonoma next week haha 777 online casino login. NASCAR also won’t overlook these incidents and may assess them to determine if any sanctions are warranted.

Last Year of Chicago?

The agreement between NASCAR and the Chicago Parks Department was structured as a three-year deal, with options for further arrangements. However, there are signs that NASCAR is considering shifting its street race to San Diego.

NASCAR officials emphasized that discussions with Chicago are ongoing, with several months ahead to make a decision, although the series typically aims to finalize its schedule by late summer. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke with the drivers before the race, much like he did the prior year.

Drivers have mixed feelings as they appreciate the street race but also recognize the benefits of rotating the event. “Street races are something this sport should commit to, whether they’re in Chicago, San Diego, or wherever,” said Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks. “I’ve always believed in taking the product directly to the people. If we can bring what we do into the heart of a city so people can experience it live, especially those who have never seen a race, that can only be beneficial for our sport.”

What are your thoughts on the recent Chicago race and the potential changes in NASCAR’s schedule?