SPEEDWAY, IN: At a time when American motorsports seems to be searching for it’s true identity, NASCAR veteran Kurt Busch has decided to accept the challenge of auto racings version of the “Daily Double”. Busch will become only the fourth racer to attempt to compete in the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, NC on the same day.
In the past, veteran open-wheel racers John Andretti, Robbie Gordon and Tony Stewart successfully pulled-off the Indy/Charlotte Double, with Stewart scoring a sixth place Indy finish, followed by fourth at Charlotte in 2001 for the best result “doing the double” thus far.
However, what Kurt Busch is attempting is a bit different, basically because of his background. Unlike Andretti, Gordon and Stewart, Busch is a pure stock car racer, with only a few laps of open wheel experience on his previous racing résumé. And, to say that Kurt’s NASCAR career has been, well, kind of up and down at best would be a bit of an understatement.
In recent years, Busch’s racing life has been filled with controversy. Various altercations, both on track and off, have highlighted Kurt’s life for the past several years. His often caustic personality and explosive temperament have cost the 2004 NASCAR champion two of the most prestigious rides in the sport, loosing opportunities with both Jack Roush and Roger Penske during the last decade. However, when Indy Car team owner Michael Andretti got wind of Busch’s desire to give the Indy 500 a try, Michael was wise enough to recognize Kurt’s desire…and talent…and a deal was put in place to enter a fifth Andretti Autosport car for Busch to try to fulfill his Indy 500 dream.
In past decades, there have been a handful of NASCAR drivers who have made their way North to give the Indy 500 a try. Marshall Teague was probably the first pure stock car racer to try the “500” in 1953 and again in 1957, scoring a seventh place finish that year. Other NASCAR racers to accept the Indy Challenge were Paul Goldsmith (1958-63), Cale Yarborough(1966-67, 1971-72), LeeRoy Yarbrough(1977, 69-70), Donnie Allison(1970 Speedway Rookie of the Year) and older brother Bobby Allison(1973, 1975). According to history, these six racers have been the only NASCAR drivers to come from a purely stock car racing background to successfully qualify for the Indy 500.
Until now.
So far, with Time Trials just around the corner, Busch’s “Excellent Adventure at Indy” has been highly successful. When asked if he was surprised to have recorded the third fastest lap of the month in practice so far, he remarked; “It definitely wasn’t on my radar. But what I’ve been able to do as a student is each day progress at a strong rate, and progressing is being able to digest the information and then being able to apply it the next day. Each day out, the Andretti Autosport team has helped me with a game plan on what’s next, so it’s nice when you can have a solid forecast of what to expect. As far as guys getting tows and posting those good laps, some of my drafting experience helps from what I’ve seen at Daytona and Talladega; Indianapolis has a little bit of Darlington characteristics into it. What I mean by that is you have to be single file and you have to know which corner you are approaching at all times, and it’s a matter of give and take with the other drivers out on the track. I haven’t been around many guys, mostly the Andretti guys but it’s been thumbs up right now. It’s been nice to continue to find speed and to feel more comfortable in the car in the traffic.”
If Kurt Busch succeeds in starting this years Indy 500, he will become the first stock car racer with a NASCAR Championship on his résumé do decide to risk it all and try to earn a place on the Indy 500’s fabled Borg-Warner Trophy.
As we said earlier, auto racing seems to currently be searching for it’s identity in the new Millennium. How do we continue to instill interest and enthusiasm in a sport that has been around for over a century?
Maybe Kurt Busch has the answer.
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