Shane van Gisbergen showcased his exceptional skills in street course racing with a commanding victory in Mexico, finishing more than 16 seconds ahead of his competitors. His performance not only reinforced his reputation but also caught the attention of fellow drivers, including Ryan Blaney, who expressed admiration for van Gisbergen’s prowess during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR.
Blaney, a driver for Team Penske, acknowledged the gap between himself and van Gisbergen. He quipped, “The only time I watch him is on the TV, because I don’t see him during the race. He’s so far ahead of me.” The comment highlighted the impressive nature of van Gisbergen’s performance, as he dominated the field in Mexico, demonstrating a level of skill that Blaney described as “impressive” and “on another level.”
In his remarks, Blaney reflected on van Gisbergen’s ability to navigate street courses with remarkable precision. “It’s not really frustration. It’s a lot of admiration,” he noted, recognizing that van Gisbergen’s dominance in Mexico was no fluke. Blaney remarked on the clinical nature of van Gisbergen’s racing, saying, “He showed how much of a butt kicking that he put on us there.”
Blaney also discussed the challenges other drivers face when attempting to match van Gisbergen’s pace. He mentioned that even advanced data from the Sport Management Technology (SMT), which helps teams analyze their performance, offers little help in closing the gap. “It’s not a matter of a missed apex or a slow exit,” Blaney explained. “SVG simply has the whole lap stitched together tighter than anyone else in the field.”
The Team Penske driver elaborated on the nuances of racing against van Gisbergen, emphasizing the Kiwi’s ability to manage his car over the bumps while extracting maximum performance without pushing to his limits. “He’s doing all that at 90 percent. If he ever turns it up to 100, all the other drivers might just be racing for second,” Blaney warned.
While van Gisbergen excels on road courses, his performance on ovals has been less stellar, placing him 27th in the standings despite two wins this season. In contrast, Blaney currently sits in seventh place, with one victory to his name. Nevertheless, on the road courses, van Gisbergen has left a significant mark, outpacing all competitors, including reigning champions.
As the NASCAR season progresses, the spotlight will remain on van Gisbergen and his remarkable abilities. His achievements not only elevate his own career but also set a high bar for fellow drivers like Blaney, who continue to admire his talent while striving to close the gap.
