INDIANAPOLIS – The Verizon 200 Cup Series race at the road course at Indy was a stage set for international stars. The NASCAR marketing and media relations teams worked tirelessly leading up to the event, boasting about the global talent that would grace the track. The spotlight was on 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button of England, endurance star Mike Rockenfeller of Germany, recent Chicago street race winner Shane van Gisbergen of New Zealand, Supercar star Brodie Kostecki of Australia, and Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi.
But the weekend was a mixed bag, with some shining moments and stumbles that left fans and pundits reflecting on what’s being called “The van Gisbergen Effect.”
Shane van Gisbergen, the virtually unknown New Zealander who won last month in Chicago, was the standout performer. His credible 10th-place finish for Trackhouse Racing and previous victory in Chicago seemed to spur Cup team owners to look internationally for road/street racing stars. Van Gisbergen’s impressive run, including leading a lap and staying within sight of the leaders for most of the 82 laps, has already fueled his desire to go full-time NASCAR, possibly as early as next year.
The results for the other international stars were less than stellar. Kobayashi finished 33rd, Button was 28th, and Rockenfeller was 24th, all a lap down. Kostecki managed a lead-lap 22nd. The performances raised questions about the strategy of looking beyond NASCAR or IndyCar for talent.
Toyota’s plan to expose its drivers to other racing disciplines by bringing in Kobayashi was understandable, but the results were not as expected. Rockenfeller, a last-minute replacement, had moments but faced criticism for holding up Chase Elliott in the final laps.
The weekend’s events have led to a broader conversation about the impact of international stars in NASCAR. Did viewers in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Japan tune in to watch their local heroes? Was the hype around the international stars justified, or was it a one-off spectacle?
Richard Childress’s decision to bring in Kostecki from Australia, where he’s an acknowledged Supercar Series star, may have longer-term implications. Kostecki’s 22nd-place finish wasn’t much to brag about, but his behavior on the lead lap may signal a future in NASCAR.
The Verizon 200 Cup Series race at Indy’s road course was a thrilling experiment in globalizing NASCAR’s appeal. The van Gisbergen Effect, a term now synonymous with the excitement and unpredictability of international talent in NASCAR, has left a mark.
While the weekend was a mixed success, it has opened doors for conversations about talent, strategy, and the future of NASCAR on the international stage. Only time will tell whether this experiment will lead to a lasting impact or remain a fleeting memory. But one thing is clear: the world is watching, and NASCAR is ready to put on a show.