Shane van Gisbergen has continued his steady progress in the NASCAR Cup Series, recording his best-ever Brickyard 400 result with a hard-fought 16th-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Trackhouse Racing driver improved on his previous best result at the famous venue, having finished 19th in last year’s Brickyard 400, as he collected another valuable points haul in his first full Cup Series season.
The result sees van Gisbergen remain inside the playoff picture, sitting 15th in the championship standings with a 57-point advantage over the cut line heading into the final four races of the regular season.
Despite the positive finish, the race was not without its challenges for the Kiwi, including one bizarre moment during the opening caution period that left both his spotter and crew chief unsure of what had happened.
After pitting during the first caution of the race, van Gisbergen attempted to adjust his steering wheel while travelling along the apron as he exited pit road. However, with the wheel temporarily removed, the car began drifting towards the infield grass.
The three-time Supercars champion was forced to slow the car and come to a stop at the edge of the grass before quickly regaining control and rejoining the circuit without losing significant time.
His spotter Josh Williams immediately checked in over the radio.
“You good?” Williams asked.
“I’ve been better,” van Gisbergen replied.
At the time, Williams and crew chief Stephen Doran were unsure what had caused the sudden stop, even switching radio channels to discuss whether the Kiwi had dropped his drinks bottle or encountered another issue.
Onboard footage later showed van Gisbergen had momentarily been attempting to drive without the steering wheel attached while making the adjustment.
The Brickyard 400 began in relatively straightforward fashion, with van Gisbergen running around 25th position throughout the opening stage.
After completing his first green-flag pit stop, the Kiwi returned to pit lane when a caution was triggered by Kyle Larson’s crash. He took on fuel and tyres, but the unusual steering wheel incident occurred as he attempted to leave pit road.
The setback dropped van Gisbergen back to 31st for the restart, with only a single lap remaining in the opening stage. Despite the disadvantage, he recovered three positions to finish 28th, while Ty Gibbs claimed the stage victory.
Van Gisbergen continued to fight through the second stage, eventually crossing the line in 27th before starting the final stage from 25th.
The No. 97 Chevrolet gradually moved forward, reaching 22nd before another caution period brought the field back together. A strategic pit stop helped van Gisbergen gain positions, with the Kiwi returning to the track in 19th.
A multi-car incident shortly after the restart created another opportunity, allowing him to move into 16th place.
From there, van Gisbergen settled into a long green-flag run to the finish, maintaining his position and securing another strong Cup Series result.
Corey Heim went on to claim his second victory of the 2026 season.
At the front of the standings, Denny Hamlin strengthened his grip on the championship lead with just four races remaining before the playoffs begin.
Carson Hocevar moved into the top five after difficult days for both Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, although no driver moved more than two positions in the overall standings.
The battle around the playoff cut line remains close, with Austin Cindric currently holding the final spot. Ryan Preece has become his nearest challenger, sitting 38 points behind, while Erik Jones trails by 44 points.
While van Gisbergen dropped to 15th in the standings, his Indianapolis result actually increased his buffer above the cut line to 57 points. He remains just three points behind Bubba Wallace, while Joey Logano’s recent run of form has lifted him to 13th after being outside the playoff positions only two races earlier.
The NASCAR Cup Series now heads into its final scheduled break before the closing four-race regular season run, which will determine the playoff field before the championship battle begins.
The series returns at Iowa Speedway from 8-10 August, with the race scheduled for Monday morning New Zealand time at 7:30am on 10 August.
Header Image: NASCAR
