What NASCAR star learned from Kostecki
A joint test in a US-based Holden Commodore Supercar has proven beneficial for Brodie Kostecki and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch.
Kostecki and Supercars rival Shane van Gisbergen will race at next month’s road course race at Indianapolis.
Erebus Motorsport driver Kostecki, who is second in the Supercars points, will race a third Richard Childress Racing Camaro for his Cup debut.
Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, returns for Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 entry after his shock debut NASCAR win in Chicago.
The two drivers will travel Stateside for race following this weekend’s Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.
Kostecki, who has a background in NASCAR, will run out of the RCR stable with Busch.
Busch and Kostecki completed a joint test in an RCR-owned Commodore Supercars when the latter visited the US earlier this year.
Kostecki has stepped up in Supercars in 2023
There, the Cup veteran took tips from the rising Supercars star, with Kostecki also watching on as Busch won in Illinois.
Busch, despite having two Cup titles and 229 wins across the three major categories, still found more to learn when he shared the track with Kostecki.
"We tested together our V8 Supercar that we have at RCR earlier this year," Busch said.
"[Kostecki] was there when we first went out and I think he had me covered by about two seconds a lap… by the end of the day, we actually ran times that were real comparable and right on top of his.
"It just took me a while to get used to those cars and what they are and how you can really attack corners. Just various driving techniques that those cars take.
"But I think those guys are all very good at what they do, and they really understand the heavy stock car feel and basis for these road courses. So, I would assume that [Kostecki] will be strong as well.
"Hopefully I can lean on him and learn a lot from him and have some time in the sim and stuff like that with him that will allow us to be better off when we get there."
Busch, meanwhile, believes van Gisbergen enters his second Cup Series start as favourite for victory.
Van Gisbergen was a shock debut winner
Van Gisbergen shocked world motorsport earlier this month when he won on debut in Chicago.
The three-time Supercars champion fought back from 17th to become the first driver to win on his Cup Series debut.
While Chicago was new for everyone, Indy is at least familiar to the Cup drivers, with some admitting van Gisbergen was a class above.
For RCR recruit Busch, van Gisbergen will still prove a major obstacle to overcome.
"I would say he is the favourite going in, for sure," said Busch, who finished 21st at Pocono on Monday (AEST).
"I would say that the gap will be closer from Chicago to the rest of the field that he had. He had us all beat by six-to-eight tenths of a second a lap.
"I would say going into Indy we should all be within two-to-three tenths, but he will still be the best guy."
The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight on July 28-30. Tickets are on sale now.
