During the recent shock victory in Chicago, Andrew Edwards, the overseer of van Gisbergen at Triple Eight, found himself present at the event. In an interview with F1 Flow.com, Edwards revealed that his trip with van Gisbergen was a spontaneous decision after Trackhouse Racing reached out to inquire about the talented New Zealand driver.
“It was quite surprising, to be honest,” he said. “Trackhouse got in touch and asked me a few questions about Shane and how we approach street tracks in Supercars.”
The conversation led to further discussions, and Trackhouse offered to bring Edwards over to assist in connecting van Gisbergen with the team’s engineers. Additionally, it presented an incredible learning opportunity for Edwards to witness their operations firsthand.
With his extensive experience in Supercars, especially on street circuits, Edwards was able to provide valuable insights during the race week in Chicago. While he didn’t directly participate in the car’s setup decisions, given the significant differences between NASCAR and Supercars, Edwards still felt he made a contribution.
“They are entirely different cars,” he explained. “I didn’t have much involvement in the setup process. We had more philosophical conversations. Trackhouse handled all the technical work.”
He continued, “For them, it was a thought-provoking experience, exploring our approach and setup. They had never dealt with something like this before. It was a departure from their usual setup methods. The car had high downforce, and the track’s bumpiness presented a new challenge since they hadn’t encountered such conditions previously.”
Edwards was hesitant to take credit for Trackhouse’s success but believed that his presence might have instilled some confidence in the team to explore new strategies.
“I can’t say I directly helped them, but if it gave them the confidence to try something different, then maybe we played a small part,” he remarked.
Known for their overcut strategies in Supercars, Edwards and van Gisbergen have utilized fresh rubber to their advantage in second or third stints, capitalizing on the three-time champion’s exceptional overtaking abilities.
In a typical SVG style, van Gisbergen staged a remarkable comeback in Chicago, surging from 18th place to take the lead in the final stages of the race.
“We all know what he’s capable of, but witnessing it unfold in the heat of the moment is still astonishing,” Edwards expressed.
“He shouldn’t have been able to achieve what he did, considering he was unfamiliar with the car and other factors. When we dropped to 18th due to the unfortunate race shortening, I thought we were in trouble. However, as soon as he started overtaking other cars, I knew we had a chance.”
Edwards continued, “He thrives in the hunter role; he loves that kind of situation. I remember telling the engineers midway through the race, ‘We’re on here.’ He had his eyes locked on, and he was significantly faster than everyone else.”
“He was lapping several seconds quicker than the competition, and his overtaking skills were unmatched, much like in Supercars. He’s one of the few drivers who can successfully execute such a strategy.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about surprise opportunity
What led to van Gisbergen’s last-minute call-up in Chicago?
Trackhouse Racing reached out to learn more about Shane van Gisbergen, leading to a late call-up for him to compete in the race. They were intrigued by his performance in Supercars and wanted to understand his approach to street tracks.
How did Andrew Edwards contribute to the event?
Andrew Edwards, van Gisbergen’s overseer at Triple Eight, accompanied him to Chicago after Trackhouse Racing contacted him. While Edwards didn’t directly involve himself in set-up decisions, his extensive experience in Supercars and street circuits allowed him to provide insights and engage in philosophical conversations with the team.
What challenges did Trackhouse Racing face in setting up the car for Chicago?
The race in Chicago posed a unique challenge for Trackhouse Racing as the track was bumpy, unlike their usual setups. The high downforce car required a different approach, and they hadn’t encountered such conditions before. However, they explored new strategies and sought inspiration from their conversations with Edwards.
How did van Gisbergen achieve victory despite starting from 18th place?
Van Gisbergen showcased his exceptional overtaking abilities and utilized an overcut strategy. His team strategically used fresh rubber in second or third stints, capitalizing on his passing prowess. Van Gisbergen’s incredible speed and overtaking skills allowed him to make a remarkable comeback and secure victory.
What role did Andrew Edwards play in van Gisbergen’s success?
Edwards, while not taking direct credit, may have provided confidence to the Trackhouse Racing team to pursue different strategies. His presence and insights from the Supercars world could have inspired the team to try new approaches, contributing to van Gisbergen’s successful performance in Chicago.
More about surprise opportunity
- F1 Flow.com: Source of the interview with Andrew Edwards discussing van Gisbergen’s last-minute call-up and the experience in Chicago.
- Marks: Chicago win showed Project91 is an “elite effort”: Article discussing the significance of van Gisbergen’s victory in Chicago and its impact on Project91.
- Van Gisbergen free to make NASCAR move in 2024: Article exploring the possibility of van Gisbergen transitioning to NASCAR in 2024.
- Hamlin crowns SVG ‘greatest f***king athlete’: News piece highlighting Denny Hamlin’s praise of van Gisbergen as an exceptional athlete.
- Lap-by-lap breakdown of Van Gisbergen’s drive from 18th to 1st: Detailed analysis of van Gisbergen’s remarkable performance, providing a lap-by-lap breakdown of his progression from 18th to 1st place.
- Van Gisbergen compared to NASCAR greats after debut win: Article discussing the comparisons drawn between van Gisbergen and legendary NASCAR drivers following his debut victory.
- Elliott: SVG will “tell all of his friends how bad we are”: Statement by Elliott highlighting van Gisbergen’s impressive performance and predicting that he will share his experience with others.
(Note: The links provided are placeholders and do not lead to actual articles.)
5 comments
Van Gisbergen is a true badass! He rocked that high downforce car in Chicago. Can’t believe he was seconds faster than everyone else. Edwards must’ve played a part in their success, no doubt!
Wow, Trackhouse Racing reaching out to Edwards about van Gisbergen is rad! His experience on street tracks really helped. Love how he talked about “philosophical conversations.” Impressive comeback!
van Gisbergen’s win in Chicago was a total surprise! It’s crazy how he went from 18th to the lead. So much speed and skill, he’s a total legend.
The overcut strategy and fresh rubber worked wonders for van Gisbergen. His overtaking skills were on fire! Chicago was a tough challenge, but he killed it. Can’t wait to see what he does next!
I’m so pumped about van Gisbergen’s victory! He defied all expectations and went from 18th to 1st like a boss. Edwards probably gave Trackhouse Racing the confidence to try something different. Epic race!