Kurt Busch doing the Double - Indy and Charlotte

Kurt Busch finalizes deal for 500-600 double.

Kurt Busch has always sought to challenge himself when it comes to motorsports, and toward that end the 2004 champion of NASCAR's premier series has found the ultimate test -- racing in two of the sport's biggest events on the same day.


Busch announced Tuesday that he has signed a deal to compete in the Indianapolis 500, meaning that the Stewart-Haas Racing driver will become the fourth person to tackle the Memorial Day weekend double when he races both at Indy and in the Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25.

more here
 
I'm so ready for this. He'll compete with Andretti Autosport.


"I'm looking to establish myself in motorsports like I always have through the years," Busch told RACER. "A couple years back, I did the Gator Nationals in a Pro Stock car to try another discipline in motorsports other than stock cars. In the years before that, I ran in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

"So I've done road course stuff. I've done dirt tracks. I've done drag racing, sports cars, stock cars, trucks, Nationwide all the good stuff in motorsports. I think this is the last item on a complete list."

Talk about adding the crown jewel to an already impressive motorsports bucket list. Even Busch acknowledges that competing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day will "rank at the top" of his achievements.

"I grew up in a NASCAR ladder system," Busch said. "I've driven everything from a Hobby Stock car with a NASCAR label on it to a Late Model, to a topless tour car, a truck, my Busch car, Cup car. So to challenge myself at the elite level of open-wheel is a whole different ball of wax."

But with Michael Andretti's pedigree in IndyCar, Busch has a solid opportunity to make his open-wheel debut with a championship organization.

"To me, the Indy 500 is a spectacle," Busch said. "It's an intriguing event. One of the components to make this first step a successful step is having a shot to win. It's not just to go for show.

"To have the Andretti name backing me in an Andretti Autosport car – as the fifth car – I can't think of a better way to start off the double – and then knowing that I'll have a Stewart-Haas Automation Chevy waiting for me when I return to Charlotte – also with a shot to win. Part of this whole strategic event is to give us a legitimate chance to win."

Full article: http://racer.com/index.php/52-indycar/101583-kurt-busch-set-for-indy-500-with-andretti-squad
 
This is awesome. I've always been a fan of Kurt. He reminded me of a young Jeff Gordon. Looks like I have a reason to tune into the 500 later this year
 
@nascarcasm

Adjusting driving style from #IndyCar to #NASCAR is hard, but achievable by taping these to one's steering wheel.

Bh4-KvLCEAEC39S.jpg:large
 
I'm so excited about this news that i have to sit on my hands to keep from waving at everyone. Now, my favorite race of any series will be even more exciting. This could be the shot in the arm that Indy Car needed for the Indy 500. The only thing that would make this any better would be if Tony and Danica was going also.
 
Indy 500 just went to the top of my "must see" list. Kinda hoped that Kurt would leave them Indy cars alone but I guess thats what he wants too do.
 
Good stuff. I hope he gets lots of practice laps in May. He has talent but he will need the crash course, as in seat time in a different type of car.
 
Thinking that anybody from any other racing series can jump in an Indy car and be competative is like thinking that anybody from any other racing series can jump in a Nascar ride and be competative . I don't believe it.
 
ted@economy said:
Thinking that anybody from any other racing series can jump in an Indy car and be competative is like thinking that anybody from any other racing series can jump in a Nascar ride and be competative . I don't believe it.
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To boot, the new gen of IndyCar (Dallara DW12) doesn't have power steering, and drivers will experience 4-5 G's through the turns at Indianapolis while at speed. Kurt will have to muscle 8000 (5 x 1600) pounds of race car through 4 turns for 500 miles, all the while centrifugal force will be trying to throw him out of the race car. He can hit the gym with Montoya and Villeneuve.

I think it'll be fun to watch. I've always loved seeing drivers try to pull both off. Reminds me of the oldern days when AJ Foyt or Mario Andretti would race at Daytona or Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison would race at Indianapolis.
 
Video from last year Kurt testing at Indy and completing the rookie test. Talks about different things.

 
KevinWI said:
To boot, the new gen of IndyCar (Dallara DW12) doesn't have power steering, and drivers will experience 4-5 G's through the turns at Indianapolis while at speed. Kurt will have to muscle 8000 (5 x 1600) pounds of race car through 4 turns for 500 miles, all the while centrifugal force will be trying to throw him out of the race car. He can hit the gym with Montoya and Villeneuve.

I think it'll be fun to watch. I've always loved seeing drivers try to pull both off. Reminds me of the oldern days when AJ Foyt or Mario Andretti would race at Daytona or Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison would race at Indianapolis.
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It's not only ' doing it ' , I think he can get the car aound the track in a respectible time . I just don't think he can be competative with drivers who 'only' do that . Then , to come back to Nascar and try to win on the same day ...well he has a tough time doing that on a good day.
 
So , just to be clear , what exactly is the feat here ? Driving 1100 miles in a day .? Pulling off the logistics of getting to both races ? Actually trying to compete ? Just getting a pile of media attention ? John Andretti pulled off the first two , but I don't recall him being competitive.
 
ted@economy said:
So , just to be clear , what exactly is the feat here ? Driving 1100 miles in a day .? Pulling off the logistics of getting to both races ? Actually trying to compete ? Just getting a pile of media attention ? John Andretti pulled off the first two , but I don't recall him being competitive.
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Andretti Autosport isn't "just to say I did it" equipment. They went 2nd-3rd-4th in last year's race (their two other entries finished around mid-pack). And, for crying out loud, it's Kurt Busch - he's not going to go through all of this trouble just to be a rolling chicane at Indy. People can dispute how good or how nice of a person he is but I don't think anyone ever questioned how competitive he is.
 
ted@economy said:
So , just to be clear , what exactly is the feat here ? Driving 1100 miles in a day .? Pulling off the logistics of getting to both races ? Actually trying to compete ? Just getting a pile of media attention ? John Andretti pulled off the first two , but I don't recall him being competitive.
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John Andretti is probably the nicest man in racing, but he was never very good, fenders or no fenders.
 
I'll be pulling for him.

The 24 hours of Daytona was the only race where drivers from many different series got together, but there are fewer NASCAR drivers are trying that now (I assume team/sponsor jurisdiction is a bigger factor now).
 
This is awesome!!! Hopefully weather and logistics makes it a smooth success.

I am excited for this ****!
 
Nitro Dude said:
I'm so excited about this news that i have to sit on my hands to keep from waving at everyone. Now, my favorite race of any series will be even more exciting. This could be the shot in the arm that Indy Car needed for the Indy 500. The only thing that would make this any better would be if Tony and Danica was going also.
Click to expand...

I like the way you think...
 
Greg said:
Good stuff. I hope he gets lots of practice laps in May. He has talent but he will need the crash course, as in seat time in a different type of car.
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It will be a major accomplishment if he makes the race, then even more of a feat if he finishes. I hope he does it will be a boost in the the arm for Indy car and great for Nascar as well.
 
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