By Bob Pockrass
FOX Sports activities NASCAR Author
Some NASCAR drivers will watch the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and surprise what might have been.
Some NASCAR drivers will watch and surprise what might be.
And different NASCAR drivers will watch and never surprise in the slightest degree of whether or not their racing careers might have taken a unique path.
The last word race for open-wheel oval racing, the long-lasting Indianapolis 500, attracts worldwide curiosity.
Kurt Busch is the one driver entered within the NASCAR race Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Coca-Cola 600, 6 p.m. ET on FOX) who has competed within the Indianapolis 500.
His brother, Kyle, had a deal set in 2017 to do it, however workforce proprietor Joe Gibbs wouldn’t let him try and run each Indianapolis and the 600-miler at Charlotte on the identical day. Busch nonetheless desires to land a deal to compete within the Indianapolis 500.
Kyle Busch on the Indianapolis 500
Kyle Busch had a deal finished to race within the Indy 500 in 2017, however Joe Gibbs wouldn’t approve it. Busch says the Indy 500 remains to be on his radar.
“It is actually on my radar,” Kyle Busch stated. “The yr that I had it offered and dedicated and sponsorship was there and the whole lot like that, I acquired informed no.
“I have not essentially tried to promote sponsorship since.”
The motive force most frequently talked about who might presumably do an Indy 500 one-off is Kyle Larson, due to his capacity to leap into quite a lot of race automobiles and excel. Larson bristles considerably on the Indy 500 query as a result of he doesn’t need to create any false expectations that he’ll run it.
He hopes to sometime however proper now doesn’t have a set plan. He did not develop up desirous to race Indianapolis regardless of his sprint-car roots (most IndyCar drivers come up by means of dash automobiles or different automobiles with open cockpits).
“My purpose and dream on the time was all the time to make it to NASCAR,” Larson stated about his early years racing. “Clearly if IndyCar — or regardless of the decrease sequence are — alternatives got here first, I most likely would have entertained it perhaps simply because I assumed that is what I might have needed to have finished on the time.
“However fortunately all of it labored out, and I am a full-time NASCAR man and might perhaps sometime do another stuff in IndyCar if I acquired the chance.”
Kyle Larson on whether or not he would race within the Indy 500
Kyle Larson says his reply to Indy 500 questions is identical as all the time and that NASCAR was all the time his profession purpose.
One driver who competed within the IndyCar developmental sequence is Michael McDowell, the 2004 Star Mazda champion. However inside a few years, he was signed with Michael Waltrip Racing and placed on a NASCAR route.
“My journey was headed that means,” McDowell stated. “To consider all that stuff and never ever have a shot at it? As time has gone on, I have been so grateful that I made the transfer to NASCAR that I did as a result of for me, there wasn’t quite a bit alternative on the time [at the top IndyCar level].
“I simply caught NASCAR on the proper time, proper earlier than improvement driver stuff went away and all that. So if I had waited two or three extra years, I do not suppose I might ever have a long-lasting profession. So I am grateful I did what I did, however after I watch it, I positively need to do it.”
Michael McDowell on if he had adopted street to Indy
Michael McDowell is within the Highway To Indy Corridor of Fame because the 2004 Star Mazda champion. Does he ever surprise what would have occurred if he had adopted that street to Indy?
It will appear that Indiana native Chase Briscoe would have an enormous want to race at Indy, however he doesn’t.
“Truthfully, I do not suppose I am courageous sufficient to attempt it,” Briscoe stated about going 240 mph in an IndyCar. “I inform all people I simply need to start-and-park. I need to be part of the opening ceremonies.
“I need to be part of strolling out, in the course of the brick stroll, taking the inexperienced flag. … I might like to run a street course, however I do not learn about an oval but.”
Bubba Wallace by no means had the Indy 500 dream. In truth, when he raced as a teenager, he didn’t essentially have skilled aspirations.
“I did not know what the trail was — we simply raced to race,” Wallace stated. “However I by no means actually ever had any want to go the IndyCar route or run the Indy 500.
“I respect the hell out of these guys. These guys are nuts.”
Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson even had his reservations about driving an IndyCar on an oval, as he competed solely on the street programs final yr in his first post-NASCAR season. However with security enhancements, together with an aeroscreen that retains particles from flying into the face of the motive force, he finally acquired comfy with it and can begin twelfth Sunday driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Johnson could have a lot of the NASCAR storage rooting for him — aside from perhaps Austin Cindric, son of Group Penske President Tim Cindric. Austin grew up going to the Indy 500 and clearly will root for his Penske teammates.
“I have a look at the Indy 500 as a race fan,” Cindric stated. “It is what I’ve grown up watching, and idolizing drivers and groups and the method and the fanfare.
“I’ve tried to place myself within the driver’s seat, particularly on qualifying day. However I do not know what I am lacking.”
Cindric does have an Indy 500 begin at the back of his thoughts.
“I might love to have the ability to do it as a driver and [would] like to do it on benefit and [would] like to do it in a high quality automobile, a high quality entry,” Cindric stated. “I additionally say that I’m fairly targeted and dedicated on my job proper now.
“However I did say going to the race final yr that that’ll be my final time on the Indy 500 on race day [as a fan]. And the subsequent time … I am both on the grid or out of a job. So one of many two. Hopefully, the primary one.”
Austin Cindric on what the Indy 500 means to him
Austin Cindric grew up with the Indy 500 as an integral a part of his life contemplating his father’s govt position at Penske.
Tyler Reddick additionally isn’t ruling it out.
“I do not say I’m wondering what might have been. I’m wondering what it might nonetheless be, proper?” the 26-year-old Reddick stated. “I am younger. I might like to hopefully discover myself within the seat of one thing like that if the chance offered itself.”
Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick on their completely different paths to NASCAR
Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick all took completely different paths to NASCAR. With the Indy 500 this week, was there ever an opportunity that they needed to go that route or would need to run that race?
If any of these drivers surprise if they’ll remorse not pursuing an Indy 500 alternative — there are many causes to not as it will take focus away from a NASCAR championship effort — they may need to hearken to Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt was requested Tuesday if he ever wished 15 to twenty years in the past that he had discovered a option to compete within the Indy 500.
“In fact,” stated Earnhardt, who’s now a part of the NBC Sports activities broadcast workforce for the race. “Surely there are regrets that I didn’t perhaps attempt to determine a means to have the ability to expertise that when in my life.
“Once you’re watching a man like Kyle Larson discuss it and contemplate it, you’re inspired since you need to see him go on the market and do it. Having my very own expertise, my very own remorse, I actually suppose {that a} man like Kyle Larson would have the identical regrets if he doesn’t ever give it a shot.”
Earnhardt is aware of his time has handed, simply because it has for him making one other begin within the Daytona 500.
“That ship has sailed,” he stated. “I’m 47. I’ll all the time surprise, I suppose, what might need been, what I might have had the chance to do.”
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What to Watch For
Can the Subsequent Gen automobile deal with 600 miles? Can the left rear tires deal with the hundreds with the groups in search of most velocity with tire pressures and camber doubtless completely different than what Goodyear recommends?
And can a driver dominate as has been the case in previous 600-mile races at Charlotte?
The hope is that the Subsequent Gen automobile will race prefer it has at lots of the different intermediate tracks, which aside from Texas have had strong racing this yr.
Speedway Motorsports did put down resin earlier this week in hopes of making a second groove.
Pondering Out Loud
The race on Sunday all the time brings up debate on whether or not a 600-mile race remains to be needed on the NASCAR calendar.
And as I’ve stated earlier than, positive it’s.
Whereas a number of races might be shortened with little influence, it’s good to have one marathon on the schedule, one final take a look at of driver and machine. The 600 fills that position.
The Sunday night time of Memorial Day weekend looks like an ideal time to do it, with many individuals having Monday off from work.
Social Highlight
They Mentioned It
“I will need to attempt to body that window web and put it over my mantle on my hearth or one thing.” — Ryan Blaney after his All-Star win
Bob Pockrass has spent a long time overlaying motorsports, together with the previous 30 Daytona 500s. He joined FOX Sports activities in 2019 following stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter and Instagram @bobpockrass. Looking for more NASCAR content? Sign up for the FOX Sports NASCAR Newsletter with Bob Pockrass!
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NASCAR – CUP – Coca-Cola 600 – 5/29/2022 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing