Before making his NASCAR Cup Series debut, Shane van Gisbergen studied stock car racing at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), only to finish that race questioning what he had signed up for. In 2023, he made his debut on the streets of Chicago and shocked the field with a remarkable victory.
Curious to gauge his competition, the New Zealander closely analyzed the previous year’s race at COTA, focusing on how experienced road-course specialists like Kimi Räikkönen and Jordan Taylor handled the event. What he saw was a chaotic race, especially at the Turn 1 hairpin, which led to significant changes for the 2024 edition to improve race flow.
“I remember watching the 2023 race before Chicago, studying what Kimi and Jordan went through, and thinking, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’” van Gisbergen recalled with a laugh.
He acknowledged that the modifications made since then were beneficial. “Turn 1 is only really problematic on restarts. As a racing corner, it’s fantastic—there are so many passing opportunities and criss-crosses. But on a restart, it’s a nightmare.”
For the 2025 race, NASCAR will use a shorter layout instead of the traditional United States Grand Prix circuit. The revised track will bypass the second sector, cutting through between Turn 6 and Turn 7, effectively reducing the length of the esses. Unlike the Supercars layout from 2013, which included a chicane, the new NASCAR configuration features a short straight.
“I like the track, it’s a great circuit. The changes they’ve made with the cut-through seem like a good decision. The version we used in Supercars wouldn’t work well for these cars,” van Gisbergen said. “That tight left-hander will still create some action.”
Despite the shortened layout, he remains optimistic about the new format. “It’s strange how much time we spend off the track rather than on it, but that’s just how it is here. The battles look cool, and I’m excited to get there.”
He also sees advantages in the changes, particularly for fans. “I enjoyed the longer track, but I understand why they shortened it, more laps mean more chances for fans to see the cars in action. Importantly, we haven’t lost any passing zones, and the revised layout should still provide plenty of opportunities for overtakes. Overall, I think it’s a smart move.”
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