The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most iconic and recognizable race tracks anywhere. When NASCAR held its first-ever race at the track in 1994, it was a historic moment for the sport. Indianapolis always had this aura surrounding it as it is a legendary circuit. It was a big deal for everybody involved in NASCAR at the time. In 2023, the Cup Series returns to the track and like it was in the 90s, there are a lot of expectations going into the Verizon 200 on Sunday. However, unlike most of the races since 1994, NASCAR will race on the Indianapolis road course.

Ahead of the race weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr spoke to the media about the time when NASCAR first started racing at Indianapolis and the prospect of shifting to the oval track instead of the road course in the future. Junior’s former team, Hendrick Motorsports, is the most successful team at the track with 10 race wins so far under their wing. He also spoke about how there were some fantastic finishes and good racing despite all the issues the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s oval track brought with it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Fondly Looks Back on NASCAR’s Indianapolis Debut

Junior was asked, “It was so historic when NASCAR raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and got on the oval. And now we have been on the road course for a few years, we can all speak to the issues that were on the oval, the racing wasn’t competitive, there were the tire issues, but there seems to be some kind of movement or maybe thought that we’re headed back to the oval? What do you think about that for NASCAR here?”

The former Cup Series driver said that there was a genuine opportunity to have an oval race at Indianapolis in the future and that it would be a ‘great thing.’

“I think that there is an opportunity for us to have an oval race and I think it would be a great thing. I have enjoyed the moments that we have created on the road course and there have been some fantastic finishes and some great racing,” he said.

Junior also mentioned that it was a ‘blessing’ for everyone involved in NASCAR at the time when the sport debuted at Indianapolis in 1994.

“When we got the opportunity to come here in the mid-90s, that was a real blessing for NASCAR. Didn’t know if that was ever going to come or materialize for us and when that door opened we walked through it. And we’re excited about that opportunity and I’d be thrilled for it to come back,” he said.

The Cup Series race will see a few new faces on the grid, but none will probably be more talked about than the Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen. The Kiwi took the NASCAR world by storm when he won his debut race in the Cup Series in Chicago.

SVG is reportedly set to join NASCAR next year, and he decided to experience racing on the oval track at Indianapolis in the Truck Series. He didn’t quite recreate the Chicago magic and said that there was a lot to learn.

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The Kiwi finished in 19th place in the Truck Series race, which was contested on the oval track at Indianapolis. He said that it was a difficult track but slow and multi-grooved.

“I think I just have to do everything. These tracks are obviously very difficult, but it is quite slow and multi-grooved, whereas other tracks, where you fix the one,” SVG said.

“So many different ways of racing here, so I got a lot to learn I need to try all different cars, all different types of ovals. It’s gonna be a huge learning curve,” he added.

He might have finished in the top 10 in the Truck Series race, but SVG will be contesting in the Cup Series on a road course which is right up his alley. Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 proved to be an effective car in Chicago. All that’s left to see is if it can be as dominant at Indianapolis.

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